PPP’s Lee selected as unified opposition candidate for Gimhae by-election

Posted on : 2011-04-13 14:40 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
PPP Chairman Rhyu’s bottom-scraping campaign did work, but his narrow-mindedness image will be a burden
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By Lee Ji-eun, Staff Writer 

It was a victory that showed the power of Rhyu Si-min.

In the public poll primary to select a unified opposition candidate for Gimhae-B seat, South Gyeongsang Province for the April 27 by-election, People Participation’s Party candidate Lee Bong-su topped Democratic Party candidate Gwak Jin-eop. At a press conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday, “Hope and Alternatives” steering committee joint-chairman Baek Seung-heon, who participated in the negotiations to form an opposition alliance, said the poll, conducted on Sunday and Monday, had selected Lee as the unified opposition candidate. Lee reported topped Gwak by around three percentage points.

With the race, which took on the appearance of a “proxy war” in the hometown of late President Roh Moo-hyun between Democratic Party chairman Sohn Hak-kyu and People Participation’s Party chairman Rhyu Si-min, brought to end with Lee’s victory, the political reactions of the two men were at odds.

It appears Rhyu, who currently enjoys the highest public support ratings within the opposition, has broadened his standing within the opposition parties. With consecutive victories as a candidate in last year’s opposition primary for the Gyeonggi Province Governor’s race and as party chairman in this latest primary, Rhyu has demonstrated his influence. With it very likely that discussions will take place to field unified candidates in next year’s general election and presidential election, it appears the result of the primary will send several waves through the opposition. Humanitas president Park Sang-hun, a doctor of political science, said as a party chairman, Rhyu was playing “insider politics” to become presidential candidate through political party activity. He said unlike Moon Kook-hyun, who got into the last presidential election as an outsider, Rhyu would solidify his position as a presidential frontrunner through head-to-head races through his party.

The special energy he focused on the primary, too, appears to be due to his belief that the primary was that significant. Since being chosen party chairman on March 19, he has almost permanently resided in Gimhae B District. His party also beat a Democratic Party candidate in an opinion poll primary to become the unified opposition candidate for local representative in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. It seems his organized and enthusiastic party members are demonstrating their power with their bottom-scraping campaign style.

Another test remains for Rhyu: the actual Gimhae B District election. If his candidate loses the race, he will once again be confronted with criticism that there are limits to his outside expansion. His rejection of mediation by civic groups during the talks to form a unified candidate remains as a burden. A party official said it seems Rhyu must consider how he can show a more integrated and modest version of himself to the public.

Sohn has been driven into desperation. He has entered a tough race for the Bundang B District in Seongnam, and the hit he took with the unified candidate losing in Gimhae B District has added to his troubles. One reelected Democratic Party lawmaker said with the party losing in Gimhae B District and fielding no candidate in the Suncheon race, Sohn must win the Bundang race. With his support numbers on the decline, Sohn has entered the Bundang race to reverse things, but if he does poorly in the race, his numbers could sink even quicker.

Sohn has earned some justification for his position as party chief by refusing to focus merely on party interests during talks to field unified candidates, free-handedly yielding races to junior parties. One of Sohn’s aides said during the talks, Rhyu earned a narrow-mindedness image while Sohn earned the image of an elder brother, and that he has earned trust from civic groups.

The Democratic Party said it would gladly welcome the Gimhae primary results and do all it could so that the unified candidate would win, but the mood is one of devastation. Groans of “We lost to Rhyu again” could be heard here and there.