Opposition leader proposes talks with Park

SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- A co-leader of the main opposition party called on President Park Geun-hye Sunday to meet him for talks on the recent controversy surrounding candidate nominations for the local elections in June. Ahn Cheol-soo, one of two co-leaders of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), made the call amid a growing dispute within his party over whether to nominate candidates for lower-level administration chiefs and councilors in the June 4 elections. "As leader of the largest opposition party, I propose to President Park Geun-hye that we meet to discuss the issue of abolishing nominations and other pending political issues," Ahn said in a press conference at the National Assembly. It was uncertain whether the proposal would be accepted. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae did not respond in any way, with insiders saying that the issue is up to the parties to work out. Any change to the nomination system requires the amendment of election laws and therefore is subject to negotiations and agreement among parties, they said. The ruling Saenuri Party responded negatively to the proposal, calling it a ploy by Ahn to protest reluctance for reform within NPAD. During the 2012 presidential campaign, both the ruling and opposition parties pledged to scrap the party-centered nomination system that has often been linked to bribes between those wanting nomination and the party. Recently, however, the Saenuri Party backtracked on its pledge, saying it would instead adopt a bottom-up nomination system involving members of the party and the public. The issue has become increasingly pressing for NPAD as some within the party have voiced concern that they could end up losing the elections if the ruling party nominates candidates while they don't. "I strongly urge President Park and the Saenuri Party once again to fulfill their promise not to nominate candidates for the local elections," Ahn said. NPAD was created just four days ago through a merger of Ahn's supporters and the opposition Democratic Party (DP). Ahn held the press conference without the presence of Kim Han-gil, who headed the DP and is now the co-leader of NPAD. Political watchers said the solo appearance is apparently an attempt to cast the June local elections as a two-way rivalry between the president and Ahn. NPAD leaders launched a nationwide signature campaign after the news conference, seeking public support for eliminating the party nomination system. hague@yna.co.kr (END)