ID :
190828
Fri, 06/24/2011 - 10:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/190828
The shortlink copeid
GNP leadership candidates gear up for party convention
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- The race to become the next leader of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) began Friday with seven candidates set to announce their policy platforms on how to steer the struggling party through next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
Most of the contenders -- Reps. Won Hee-ryong, Kwon Young-se, Hong Joon-pyo, Nam Kyung-pil, Park Jin, Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won -- are in their late 40s and early 50s amid calls for a young leader who can bring changes to the conservative party.
Opinion polls suggest that the GNP stands to lose many of the 171 seats that it currently has in the 299-member National Assembly unless it turns voter sentiment around amid negative perceptions about the grim job market and growing income disparity under the pro-business Lee Myung-bak administration.
The race is overshadowed by economic and welfare issues, such as college tuition prices, tax cuts for conglomerates and the wealthy, free school lunches and the pending free trade deal with the United States. North Korea is also an issue amid cross-border tensions.
On Friday, the first meeting for the announcement of the candidates' political views was held in the southeastern city of Daegu. The candidates will go on national tours to five other regions during the campaign periods ahead of the voting day set for July 4.
The July 4 leadership election will be determined based on a combination of votes from a 210,000-member electorate college and the outcome of a telephone survey of 3,000 people, the party's election watchdog said.
The party will host five televised debates where the candidates will present their blueprints of how to revamp the party and craft welfare policies to win back voters.
Political analysts say TV debates will be significant in this year's convention as they will help shape public views of the candidates and affect opinion polls, the results of which will be counted as votes.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
Most of the contenders -- Reps. Won Hee-ryong, Kwon Young-se, Hong Joon-pyo, Nam Kyung-pil, Park Jin, Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won -- are in their late 40s and early 50s amid calls for a young leader who can bring changes to the conservative party.
Opinion polls suggest that the GNP stands to lose many of the 171 seats that it currently has in the 299-member National Assembly unless it turns voter sentiment around amid negative perceptions about the grim job market and growing income disparity under the pro-business Lee Myung-bak administration.
The race is overshadowed by economic and welfare issues, such as college tuition prices, tax cuts for conglomerates and the wealthy, free school lunches and the pending free trade deal with the United States. North Korea is also an issue amid cross-border tensions.
On Friday, the first meeting for the announcement of the candidates' political views was held in the southeastern city of Daegu. The candidates will go on national tours to five other regions during the campaign periods ahead of the voting day set for July 4.
The July 4 leadership election will be determined based on a combination of votes from a 210,000-member electorate college and the outcome of a telephone survey of 3,000 people, the party's election watchdog said.
The party will host five televised debates where the candidates will present their blueprints of how to revamp the party and craft welfare policies to win back voters.
Political analysts say TV debates will be significant in this year's convention as they will help shape public views of the candidates and affect opinion polls, the results of which will be counted as votes.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
