Ruling Party Almost Split in Two

A group of reform-minded lawmakers within the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to split from the party as their efforts to hold a national convention were dashed at an executive members’ meeting Thursday.

The group, mostly followers of President Roh Moo-hyun, is planning to establish a preparatory committee for the formation of a new party within the MDP, then leave the party en masse, hold a promotion rally, and finally register with the National Election Commission.

The split has resulted in almost dividing the MDP in two, ahead of the general election in April of next year. A large-scale reshuffle in the political community is expected.

At the meeting Thursday, the group of MDP lawmakers pushing ahead with the formation of a new party issued a roadmap for a new party, in which they said that it would be open to reform-minded people outside the MDP. They went on to say that they would decide on an exact schedule for the new party’s formation at an early date in order to ensure success in the upcoming general election.

The preparatory committee will be comprised of 100 people - 53 incumbent lawmakers and 47 heads of party chapters who do not hold Assembly seats. Members of the preparatory committee decided to stay within the party for the time being and defect from the party en masse after submitting written reports of their secession to Rep. Kim Won-ki, chairman of the group of MDP lawmakers seeking a new party.

A key official of the reform-minded group said that the preparatory committee within the MDP would be set up before the Chuseok holiday and that they would leave the party before September 20, after the National Assembly’s inspection of government offices has been completed. "Once the process for the formation of a new party starts, we will work on combining forces with those who want to join us outside the MDP. By late December, local chapters and a central party will be opened and by the end of January next year, candidates for the general elections will be selected, " Kim added.

Regarding the reformists’ move, Rep. Park Sang-cheon contended that to establish a preparatory committee for a new party within the MDP undermines the party, and so asked them to form the new party only after leaving the MDP so as not to cause any discord within it.

At the party executive members’ meeting, MDP chairman Chyung Dai-chul tried to put the issue of holding a national convention to a vote, but the party old guard managed to prevent the vote.

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com