ID :
211514
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211514
The shortlink copeid
Park Geun-hye vows to help ruling camp in Seoul mayoral race
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Park Geun-hye, a leading presidential contender for the ruling Grand National Party, said Thursday she will campaign on behalf of the party's candidate for Seoul mayor, a rare move considering she has long distanced herself from party affairs and elections.
Park's campaigning for GNP candidate Na Kyung-won could help the two-term lawmaker narrow her gap with Park Won-soon, the opposition-backed front-runner in the Oct. 26 election. Park's decision also indicates that she is gearing up for her presidential bid.
Park, who aspires to become South Korea's first female president, has so far taken a hands-off approach to party affairs amid soured relations with President Lee Myung-bak after she lost to Lee in the party's 2007 primary to select a presidential candidate.
"So far, I have taken one step back so that the government and ruling party could perform well. Currently, not only the GNP but also the whole political circle is in a situation of crisis," Park told reporters ahead of a parliamentary meeting.
"We should all combine our strength under these circumstances, and I also should do my best to bring change to the party and politics," Park said, stopping short of explaining how she would support the GNP's candidate Na Kyung-won.
Apparently mindful of speculation that her help in the Seoul mayoral race may be a prelude to her presidential campaign, the 59-year-old said the upcoming local by-election "is not related to the presidential race."
In line with her decision to joint the campaign, the GNP unveiled its welfare policy in line with Park's. Park was reported to have demanded that the party adopt her welfare policy proposal as a de-facto precondition for her decision to join the campaign.
The official campaign for the Oct. 26 by-election kicks off next Thursday.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Park's campaigning for GNP candidate Na Kyung-won could help the two-term lawmaker narrow her gap with Park Won-soon, the opposition-backed front-runner in the Oct. 26 election. Park's decision also indicates that she is gearing up for her presidential bid.
Park, who aspires to become South Korea's first female president, has so far taken a hands-off approach to party affairs amid soured relations with President Lee Myung-bak after she lost to Lee in the party's 2007 primary to select a presidential candidate.
"So far, I have taken one step back so that the government and ruling party could perform well. Currently, not only the GNP but also the whole political circle is in a situation of crisis," Park told reporters ahead of a parliamentary meeting.
"We should all combine our strength under these circumstances, and I also should do my best to bring change to the party and politics," Park said, stopping short of explaining how she would support the GNP's candidate Na Kyung-won.
Apparently mindful of speculation that her help in the Seoul mayoral race may be a prelude to her presidential campaign, the 59-year-old said the upcoming local by-election "is not related to the presidential race."
In line with her decision to joint the campaign, the GNP unveiled its welfare policy in line with Park's. Park was reported to have demanded that the party adopt her welfare policy proposal as a de-facto precondition for her decision to join the campaign.
The official campaign for the Oct. 26 by-election kicks off next Thursday.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
