ID :
191739
Wed, 06/29/2011 - 10:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/191739
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GNP promises to hold leadership election as scheduled
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Grand National Party promised Wednesday to hold the upcoming leadership election as scheduled amid concerns it could be put off after a court decision virtually invalidated a set of recently revised election rules.
Earlier this month, the GNP revised its charter to introduce a set of new regulations for the July 4 election to pick a new leader who will guide the party through next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
The revisions were a sensitive issue because they could affect candidates' chances.
A disgruntled party member cried foul and filed for a court injunction on the new rules, claiming that the June 7 vote to revise the charter had procedural problems as 266 party members had a senior official cast their ballots on their behalf without attending the vote.
On Tuesday, a court in Seoul accepted the request for an injunction, effectively nullifying the new election rules and sparking concern that the upcoming election may not be held as scheduled.
However, GNP officials played down the impact of the court decision.
"There will be no delay for the party convention," said Rep. Bae Eun-hee, a GNP spokeswoman.
Bae said that the party will hold a vote on Saturday to try again to approve the new charter. If this week's conference fails to gather enough members to make up a quorum, the party will put it to a vote again right before next week's election at a national convention, she said.
For the revised rules to take effect, they need a majority of votes among 741 party members.
All seven candidates running in the election are against making any changes to the new election rules over concerns that it could cause confusion during the voting that is less than one week away. The candidates are Reps. Won Hee-ryong, Kwon Young-se, Hong Joon-pyo, Nam Kyung-pil, Park Jin, Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won.
In the first televised debate of the election campaign later Wednesday, all candidates promised to bring change to the struggling conservative party, showing their cards on how to steer the party through next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
Each of the candidates clashed over economic and welfare issues, such as college tuition prices, tax cuts for conglomerates and the wealthy to win back low- and middle- income 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 help determine the party's next leader.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
Earlier this month, the GNP revised its charter to introduce a set of new regulations for the July 4 election to pick a new leader who will guide the party through next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
The revisions were a sensitive issue because they could affect candidates' chances.
A disgruntled party member cried foul and filed for a court injunction on the new rules, claiming that the June 7 vote to revise the charter had procedural problems as 266 party members had a senior official cast their ballots on their behalf without attending the vote.
On Tuesday, a court in Seoul accepted the request for an injunction, effectively nullifying the new election rules and sparking concern that the upcoming election may not be held as scheduled.
However, GNP officials played down the impact of the court decision.
"There will be no delay for the party convention," said Rep. Bae Eun-hee, a GNP spokeswoman.
Bae said that the party will hold a vote on Saturday to try again to approve the new charter. If this week's conference fails to gather enough members to make up a quorum, the party will put it to a vote again right before next week's election at a national convention, she said.
For the revised rules to take effect, they need a majority of votes among 741 party members.
All seven candidates running in the election are against making any changes to the new election rules over concerns that it could cause confusion during the voting that is less than one week away. The candidates are Reps. Won Hee-ryong, Kwon Young-se, Hong Joon-pyo, Nam Kyung-pil, Park Jin, Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won.
In the first televised debate of the election campaign later Wednesday, all candidates promised to bring change to the struggling conservative party, showing their cards on how to steer the party through next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
Each of the candidates clashed over economic and welfare issues, such as college tuition prices, tax cuts for conglomerates and the wealthy to win back low- and middle- income 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 help determine the party's next leader.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
