Ex-PM Goh Plans to Create New Party

Former Prime Minister Goh Kun announced his plan to create a new political party in December.

In a ceremony held in Cheongju on November 2 to celebrate the Forum for the Future Hope of North Chungcheong Province, Goh Kun said to journalists, “We need to create a new political party of those in the middle path to unify the people and overcome the national crisis to make our country stronger.”

“The new party, independent from any existing political party, has no relation to any particular party’s discussion for political reform. It will be a new place for those with similar political views to meet and cooperate,” added Goh.

He is planning to contact unofficially politicians who are positive about creating a new party. Goh’s new political party plan is likely to influence moves for political reform within Uri Party and Democratic Party.

Goh made it clear that the new party will exclude pro-Roh groups, saying, “President Roh expressed his objection to breaking the party apart, and my plan to create a new political party is an alternative to the current crisis caused by the government’s and the ruling party’s failure.”

Concerning the open primary pursued by Uri as a way to choose the party’s candidate for presidential election, Goh also said, “I am not interested in a particular party’s open primary although I think positively of it.”

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