Talks in Progress for "Pro-Park" Reinstatement

Regarding the rejoining of pro-Park Geun-hye lawmakers to the Grand National Party (GNP), the party’s new chair Park Hee-tae said yesterday, “We cannot waste more time. All of them must rejoin the party at once as soon as possible.”

He added, “We will work towards their prompt rejoining based on the party’s principles decided earlier. Those who cannot return due to reasons that prevent them from rejoining according to the party’s constitution can come back when their issues are resolved.”

He further stressed, “We will treat the existing party council members who will be affected by the mass rejoining with utmost respect, and guarantee their career in the party.”

A close aide to the GNP chairman said, “Park stepped up to promptly resolve the rejoining issue to remain faithful to his pledge of harmony within the party which he constantly emphasized during the election period in the party convention.”

Park will discuss a specific resolution to the issue after he receives reports on the progress at the Supreme Council today.

It has been reported that 12 independent pro-Park Geun-hye lawmakers including Rep. Kim Moo-sung will submit applications for returning to the party around July 10 as a result of the GNP’s efforts.

Kim said in a telephone interview yesterday, “I will meet with other independent pro-Park lawmakers on Tuesday to make a final decision after seeing what comes out at the Supreme Council meeting on Monday. We plan to submit the applications as soon as possible.”

However, it has been reported that the leadership of the Pro-Park Alliance set a policy not to apply all at the same time. An official from the alliance said, “Since our leader Suh Chung-won is now under investigation by the prosecution, it is unlikely that he can go back to the GNP any time soon. Therefore, we decided that it is to our alliance`s advantage to leave as a separate political power for the time being.”

It has also been reported that a majority of the alliance`s proportionate representatives other than Suh, including Yang Jeong-rye and Roh Chul-rae, decided not to return to the GNP. In a recent spontaneous meeting with a top official of the GNP, Suh has been reported to have said, “Do not interfere with the Pro-Park Alliance."

Reports have it that those who wish to go back to the GNP before the National Assembly goes back on track, such as Reps. Hong Sa-duk, Park Jong-geun, Song Yeong-sun and Hong Jang-pyo, have created tension against the alliance leaders.

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