For Bigger Political Clout

Ruling Uri Party merges with United New Democratic Party to continue to keep power in liberal camps

With its eye on the presidential election in December, the pro-government Uri Party disbanded on July 18, with its lawmakers preparing to join a recently-formed liberal party.
The move came after months of internal debate whether the party should remain in existence, despite rock-bottom approval ratings for President Roh Moo-hyun. After a series of mass defections by Uri lawmakers, the party leadership decided to dissolve the party and join the United New Democratic Party, launched by the defectors last month, mainly to boost the chances of a liberal candidate winning the election. The United New Democratic Party has increased its parliamentary members to 143 to become the majority party as Uri Party still had 58 legislators. The new party outnumber the opposition Grand National Party with 129 members.
The new party will inform the Election Committee of the merger. Under the merger, the new democrats will be the legal custodian of the Uri Party's financial responsibilities and other obligations. Its head office will be located in a building in
Dangsan-dong, southern Seoul. The newly merged party will appoint two vacant high committee members. It will also call for a workshop to discuss the direction of the new party's operation including its major policies and the issue of nominating its presidential candidate through a primary. Leaders of the two parties met on Aug. 20 to talk about various matters related to details of the merger such as the merger procedures, take over of assets and liabilities of the Uri Party.
President Oh Choong-il of the United New Democratic Party, said the new party will act responsibly to support the participatory government's job to wrap up its five-year rule and rush to lead the peace and reform forces to retain the power. He said the party will be able to choose its own presidential candidate in early November at the latest through moves to unify the ruling circle candidate. Its candidates include Sohn Hak-kyu, former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, former Uri Party Chairman Chung Dong-young, Rep. Ryu Si-min, former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, and many others.
Polls collectively suggest the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) will win the presidency if the vote were taken today.
The primary election for the GNP's presidential candidate was held July 19, with former Seoul mayor and ex-Hyundai Construction CEO Lee Myung-bak leading the polls.
With public attention largely focused on the conservative camp, no date has been set for the liberal forces to hold their primary.
About a dozen hopefuls are vying for the liberal nomination.
With approximately 2,600 delegates at its final party convention, the Uri Party overwhelmingly voted to disband and merge with the United New Democratic Party. The decision ends an experiment by President Roh Moo-hyun and his supporters who founded the party in 2003, to root out political corruption and make the country's authoritarian party system more democratic.
"We lacked the ability to overcome resistance by conservative forces and at the same time achieve reform,"Uri Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said after the vote. nw

Rep. Park Kwang-myung, left, representing Rep. Chung Dong-young shakes hands with Rep. Kim Bu-gyum, at the United New Democratic Party head office July 21 to register presidential candidacies of former Gyeonggi Province Gov. Sohn Hak-kyu and Rep. Chung Dong-young in the party's primary election.