Forty Reformists To Register New Party As Floor Negotiation Group Today

Secessionists from the ruling party elected Rep. Kim Keun-tae as the leader of a new party tentatively called ˝the people`s participatory new party˝ on Friday.

The secessionists will officially register the party as a floor negotiation group in parliament today, becoming the fourth political force with about 44 members in the 272-member National Assembly.

As a result, the Grand National Party, the people`s participatory new party, the Millennium Democratic Party, and the United Liberal Democrats are expected to compete with each other in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

With the joining of five renegades from the main opposition Grand National Party, including Rep. Lee Bu-young, to the new party, some 40 lawmakers are expected to launch the people`s participatory new party.

Reportedly, Rep. Kim Won-woong and Yoo Si-min from the People`s Party for Reform are also expected to join the new party after gathering the party`s opinion.

Rep. Park Yang-soo claimed, ˝Before and after the registration of the new party as a floor negotiation body in parliament scheduled for Sept 20, another eight lawmakers are likely to bolt the ruling party. We expect that the total number of lawmakers expected to join the new party will increase to sixty-one by December, when a general convention of the new party is expected to be held.˝

Although the new party has decided to elect Kim won-gi as the head of the central party, Kim has been reportedly said to clarify his position that he would concede the position in Chung Dai-chul`s favor, who is expected to unite with those reformists.

MDP chairman Chung is expected to step down from his post as early as on Sept 20 and join the new party in the middle of next month right after the end of the on-going parliamentary audit.

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com