ID :
211034
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 10:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211034
The shortlink copeid
Two-way Seoul mayoral race gets under way
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- The contest to become Seoul mayor got off to an earnest start Tuesday, a day after the rival candidates were finalized and the main opposition party locked out of the race.
Park Won-soon, a liberal lawyer-turned-activist with no party affiliation, beat two-term lawmaker Park Young-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) in Monday's primary-type election, thus becoming the unified contender running against the ruling party candidate.
The 55-year-old Park had been the favorite since he received endorsement from popular software entrepreneur Ahn Chul-soo early last month. His victory was a blow to the main opposition party as it was left unable to field a candidate in the key election.
Park's win also underlined growing voter discontent with the traditional political parties.
On Tuesday, DP chairman Sohn Hak-kyu offered to step down as party head, though he reiterated his earlier pledge to help the ultimate candidate in the liberal camp.
"It is an undeniable fact that the main opposition party with a 60-year-old history has failed to field a candidate", DP spokesman Lee Yong-sup quoted him as saying. "It is a party leader's duty to step down over this matter, taking responsibility to people and party members."
While Park has yet to reveal whether he plans to join the party, he said he wants to be elected with the help of all opposition forces.
"I think the DP's policy and determination for this election is not so different from mine," Park said in a radio interview earlier in the day.
The Oct. 26 by-election is seen as a bellwether for next year's parliamentary and presidential elections. The Seoul post has been vacant since conservative former mayor Oh Se-hoon stepped down in August after losing a referendum he called to oppose a free school lunch program supported by the opposition-led city council.
In the ruling camp, Rep. Na Kyung-won has been leading preliminary campaign activities after being picked as the conservative party's candidate last week on the back of high approval ratings within her party.
With her approval ratings lagging behind Park in recent polls, the two-term politician has been looking for active support by conservative political heavyweights, including Park Geun-hye, leading presidential hopeful for 2012 race.
While Park has not yet declared her preference, her close aides and party officials said the former chairwoman, often referred to as "the queen of elections," is poised to support Na once the party unveils its official welfare blueprint next week.
It is not yet known when and how Park would help Na's camp, her close aides said, adding that she would soon speak for herself about her plan. Park earlier submitted a welfare bill that calls for expanding customized social programs for different age groups.
As Park had deliberately distanced herself from party affairs and elections during the last four years, political watchers paid close attention to her rare move.
"(Her support) will help unite conservative forces and attract some neutral voters," said Ko Sung-kuk, a Seoul-based political analyst.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Park Won-soon, a liberal lawyer-turned-activist with no party affiliation, beat two-term lawmaker Park Young-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) in Monday's primary-type election, thus becoming the unified contender running against the ruling party candidate.
The 55-year-old Park had been the favorite since he received endorsement from popular software entrepreneur Ahn Chul-soo early last month. His victory was a blow to the main opposition party as it was left unable to field a candidate in the key election.
Park's win also underlined growing voter discontent with the traditional political parties.
On Tuesday, DP chairman Sohn Hak-kyu offered to step down as party head, though he reiterated his earlier pledge to help the ultimate candidate in the liberal camp.
"It is an undeniable fact that the main opposition party with a 60-year-old history has failed to field a candidate", DP spokesman Lee Yong-sup quoted him as saying. "It is a party leader's duty to step down over this matter, taking responsibility to people and party members."
While Park has yet to reveal whether he plans to join the party, he said he wants to be elected with the help of all opposition forces.
"I think the DP's policy and determination for this election is not so different from mine," Park said in a radio interview earlier in the day.
The Oct. 26 by-election is seen as a bellwether for next year's parliamentary and presidential elections. The Seoul post has been vacant since conservative former mayor Oh Se-hoon stepped down in August after losing a referendum he called to oppose a free school lunch program supported by the opposition-led city council.
In the ruling camp, Rep. Na Kyung-won has been leading preliminary campaign activities after being picked as the conservative party's candidate last week on the back of high approval ratings within her party.
With her approval ratings lagging behind Park in recent polls, the two-term politician has been looking for active support by conservative political heavyweights, including Park Geun-hye, leading presidential hopeful for 2012 race.
While Park has not yet declared her preference, her close aides and party officials said the former chairwoman, often referred to as "the queen of elections," is poised to support Na once the party unveils its official welfare blueprint next week.
It is not yet known when and how Park would help Na's camp, her close aides said, adding that she would soon speak for herself about her plan. Park earlier submitted a welfare bill that calls for expanding customized social programs for different age groups.
As Park had deliberately distanced herself from party affairs and elections during the last four years, political watchers paid close attention to her rare move.
"(Her support) will help unite conservative forces and attract some neutral voters," said Ko Sung-kuk, a Seoul-based political analyst.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
