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8 vie for Grand National Party head post/b>
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As of the July 2 deadline, eight officials from the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) have registered their candidacy for the party’s leadership position. The GNP will pick its new leadership, including a new chairperson, at the party’s national convention on July 11. ¶
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Those running for party chair are former floor leaders Kang Jae-sup and Lee Jae-oh and Reps. Kwon Young-se, Lee Q-taek, Lee Bang-ho, Chun Yu-ok, and Chung Yung-keun and former legislator Kang Chang-hee. The party leaders will be elected when 9,144 representatives cast their votes alongside a public opinion poll. The new chairperson will take responsibility for the 2008 general elections as well as the presidential election slated for next year. ¶
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Party sources say Kang Jae-sup and Lee Jae-oh are considered to be leading the race. Rep. Kang says, "I will become a chairman who will both unite and scrutinize the party, while stressing harmony among its lawmakers." His remarks can be seen in light of the fierce competition between the party’s presidential hopefuls, former chairwoman Park Geun-hye, former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, and former Gyeonggi governor Sohn Hak-kyu. ¶
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Rep. Lee Jae-oh took a more defensive stance in his campaign for the party’s top post, saying, "The party needs a ’strong leader’ to protect presidential candidates from the attacks of the ruling camp." ¶
¶ Lee attacked Kang, saying, "It isn’t desirable for a legislator from Daegu and North Gyeongsang province to be a chairperson," suggesting regional politics would enter the picture under Kang’s leadership. Kang retorted, "A person who is swayed by the current social atmosphere shouldn’t lead the party," referring in part to Lee’s focus on the present political situation in his campaign rather than on the party’s future.¶ ¶ Standing most strongly against these two is Rep. Kwon, who is the single candidate from a solidarity of junior moderate politicians in the GNP. He is campaigning to win over the younger, reform-oriented party members, claiming that the party needs new and young leaders. GNP lawmakers noted that they cannot ignore the power of a candidate from the junior solidarity, as it includes a significant proportion of the party’s leading voices.¶
