Exodus of MDP Lawmakers to Continue

Eleven dissenters of Roh Moo-hyun, the presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) broke away from the party yesterday. As additional four to five MDP lawmakers are expected to give up their party membership after Nov. 8, when the regular parliamentary session is over, increasing the possibility of the MDP`s split-up.

Among them are the party`s director-general Yu Yong-tae, Rep. Hong Jae-hyeon, the chairman of the parliamentary Special Committee for Budget and Accounts, Rep. Chang Sung-won and Rep. Song Young-jin. Reps Park Byoung-yun and Kim Gyeong-chun said they would defect from the party if the MDP fails to field a single candidate with other parties. Reps. Rhee In-je, Lee Yong-sam, Won Yu-chul are expected to clarify their position at the end of this month. With further exodus expected, the number of defectors is expected to exceed 20.

Former prime minister Lee Hand-dong is willing to participate in a negotiation group promoted by these MDP defectors, and Reps. Ahn Dong-sun, Kim Myeong-sup and Kang Sung-gu, who broke away from the MDP earlier, are expected to join in.

They plan to form a third parliamentary negotiation group by the weekend and to promote their scheme in earnest to field a single presidential candidate between Roh and Rep. Chung Mong-jun of the National Unity 21.

Meanwhile, ten MDP lawmakers elected through the national constituency held a press conference and said that they would give up their party membership in order to provide and prepare for the basis for fair primaries to field a single presidential candidate.

Another three MDP legislators elected through the national constituency attended in the press conference to announce their commitment to joining force with them and asked the MDP for their expulsion.

Lee Nak-yeon, the spokesman of the MDP said that it could not be justified for them to quit the party saying that the party fails to field a single candidate at a time, when Roh has already proposed to field a single candidate through a thorough verification process and open primaries. Proponents of Roh urged the three MDP legislators to give up their party membership.

Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com