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| Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, the head of the ruling Saenuri Party's nomination management committee, walks from the podium after a press briefing at the National Assembly, Friday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Hyo-jin
With only 39 days remaining ahead of the April 13 general election, the ruling and opposition parties are still plagued by internal conflicts.
The ruling Saenuri Party is faced with renewed factional strife between loyalists to President Park Geun-hye and the non-Park faction led by Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, following the leak of an internal survey; while the minor opposition People's Party is suffering from a division of its members over whether to form an alliance with the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).
The National Election Committee (NEC) said Friday that it has launched an official investigation on the leak of the Saenuri Party's internal poll on preliminary candidates. If it is suspected of violating the Election Law, the case will be handed to the prosecution, it added.
The move came a day after photos of the opinion polls on potential candidates in nationwide constituencies were spread throughout social networks. The polls were viewed as references prepared by the party's think tank, the Yeouido Institute to decide candidate nomination, according to party officials.
The polls reportedly showed that incumbent lawmakers in Daegu, those categorized as the non-Park followers, are winning over their rivals ― Park's loyalists.
The leak could put a brake on Lee Hahn-koo, the head of the ruling party's nomination committee, to expand "strategic" nominations.
Lee, known as a pro-Park lawmaker, has pushed for the plan to select some candidates based on the party's recommendation, causing clashes with Kim, a strong backer of the bottom-up nominating process.
The non-Park faction claims the format, in which the party designates high-profile figures to run in vital regions without internal races beforehand, will hardly prevent Park and her aides from exerting influence in selecting candidates.
The pro-Park lawmakers accused the opposition faction of masterminding the leak of the polls.
"Non-Park lawmakers could resist harshly if they fail in being nominated, now that the result of the poll have been unveiled," said a pro-Park lawmaker, who wished to remain anonymous. "It seems they leaked the documents intentionally."
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| Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, the co-chairman of the minor opposition People's Party, leaves its headquarters in Seoul after a party meeting, Friday. / Yonhap |
The non-Park faction, however, raised an offensive against the nomination committee led by Lee, for its mismanagement of the internal document.
Lee denied the possible involvement of the committee, saying "there's no possibility that committee members are behind the leakage. The groundless accusation to undermine the committee's activity should be stopped."
Meanwhile, lawmakers of the People's Party showed a deepening chasm in their opinions on the party merger plan proposed by Kim Jong-in, interim leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).
Kim stepped up pushing for his proposal, saying he has cleared the vested interests of the mainstreamers in the party.
The People's Party consists of 18 lawmakers who left the MPK in opposition to former leader Rep. Moon Jae-in, the de facto leader of the mainstreamers loyal to late President Roh Moo-hyun.
