MDP to Form a New Party

The Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) held a joint meeting of supreme councilors and advisors on the 9th and decided to create a new party and form a committee that will take charge of the establishment of a new party.

After officially announcing the creation of a new party, the MDP plans to promote to recruit political bigwigs such as former premier Lee Han-dong, Reps. Chung Mong-jun and Park Geun-hye and other politicians from minor political parties.

The MDP`s move is expected to cause a dramatic change in the political landscape in the run up to the presidential election since it is aimed at ultimately forming the so-called `anti-Lee Hoi-chang` sentiment.

The MDP also decided to convene a joint meeting of lawmakers and heads of party chapters to discuss specific measures to create a new party such as procedures and timing.

In the meeting, some supreme councilors demanded that all supreme councilors resign holding accountable for the humiliating defeat in the Aug. 9 by-elections, but a majority of them opposed the idea for fear that such an action could lead to confusion in party affairs. Instead, they decided to resign en masse when the proposed new party formally launches.

They also decided to disapprove the demand from non-mainstreamers that Roh, MDP presidential candidate resign before a new party is established.

Roh said in the meeting, "I would consider a variety of discussions over creating a new party. But a presidential candidate of the proposed party should be selected through a primary election and more than 50% or the participants of the primary should be the public."

Roh added, "With only a few months left before the presidential election, I hope the preparation for the presidential election will be completed in time," indicating his position that the creation of a new party and the nomination process should be completed during September.

But some non-mainstreamers demand that the delegates of a presidential primary be party members, and move to support other political figures such as Chung Mong-jun or Lee Han-dong as a replacement of Roh, heralding an internal disputes.

In the meantime, lawmakers who support Roh and others who oppose Roh held a meeting respectively and decided to play an active role in creating a new party.

Young-Chan Yoon Hyung-gwon Pu yyc11@donga.com bookum90@donga.com