Posted December. 25, 2007 07:00,
On Monday, President-elect Lee Myung-bak and the nations main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) leader Kang Jae-sup decided to hold regular meetings between the president and the party leader and to revive the appointment of the Chief Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs with the aim of pursuing closer cooperation between the president and the GNP when Lee takes office.
With regard to the latest dispute over the separation of powers between the party and the president, GNP spokesman Park Hyeong-jun said Lee and Kang met Monday in the training center of the Financial Supervisory Service, which will be the headquarters of the presidential power transition committee, and agreed on the necessity of a close relationship between the party and the president. He added that they also agreed on the need to strengthen the political affairs arm of Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee said on that day, In order to closely cooperate with the GNP, Kang and I decided to have frequent meetings before I take office. I believe we also need regular meetings after I take office.
When Kang suggested reviving the appointment of the Chief Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, Lee responded positively, saying, The idea is worth reviewing.
Regarding the relationship between the ruling party and the president, Lee said, I think it is well-defined in the party regulations. Altering the party regulations does not seem to be a good topic for future discussion. It is up to the people to make the best use of these regulations. So I believe it is important for the party and the president to cooperate with each other.
Kang responded, The party constitution defines that the president should reflect the policies of the party and that the party should assist the president. There is a shared responsibility between the two. As long as we stick to this rule, we will be fine.
When Park Hee-tae, one of the senior and main members of the party, argued last Friday that the separation of powers between the president and the party should be considered, the party seemed like it was on the verge of entering an internal brawl between pro-Lee and Pro-Park Geun-hye groups over the party nomination of parliamentary candidates. However, with the meeting between Lee and Kang, the conflict seems to have subsided for the time being.