Chong Wa Dae Seeks to Mend Coalition Ties
As Kim Jong-pil, founder and honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), returned home yesterday from a visit to Japan, Chong Wa Dae and the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) were trying to mend ties with the ULD, its junior coalition partner.
Source : Korea
As Kim Jong-pil, founder and honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), returned home yesterday from a visit to Japan, Chong Wa Dae and the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) were trying to mend ties with the ULD, its junior coalition partner.
The presidential office and the MDP is eager to arrange a meeting between President Kim Dae-jung, concurrently its president, and the ULD's Kim in a bid to revive the parties' relationship, which turned sour in the wake of the ``blacklisting'' campaign by non-governmental organizations, which the ULD claimed were remote-controlled by Chong Wa Dae.
A Chong Wa Dae official said that the presidential office is seeking to arrange a meeting between the two top political leaders as early as possible, as it would be the surest way to break the deadlock in inter-party relations.
In a related development, MDP secretary general Kim Ok-doo said yesterday that he would meet with his ULD counterpart Kim Hyun-uck to discuss joint nomination of candidates for the April 13 Assembly election.
He indicated the MDP would concede some 20 of the 96 constituencies in Seoul and its metropolitan areas as a means to lure the ULD to the negotiating table.
Despite the attempts to normalize ties, the ULD is maintaining a lukewarm attitude, apparently looking for further concessions from the MDP on the joint candidacy issue.
The junior coalition partner is also eager to take advantage of allegations that President Kim and his party have been colluding with civic organizations to undermine the ULD honorary president and conservative forces through the NGOs' campaign.
The ULD has begun to muster growing sympathy in its stronghold, Chungchong province, particularly since the blacklisting campaign started.
ULD secretary general Kim said, ``I have no plan to meet with MDP secretary general Kim for the time being. It is not the proper time for the two parties to discuss joint nomination as they have yet to solve their differences on basic issues.''
ULD acting president Lee Han-dong, however, implied the party would come to the negotiating table with the MDP if the situation changes, saying, ``The matter concerning the joint nomination would be the key to resolving the conflict.''
Meanwhile, a close aide to ULD leader Kim said, ``While in Japan, Kim has pondered the pending issues including the coalition ties. But he is expected to maintain a wait-and-see attitude for the moment, watching the MDP's actions.''
He went on to say that Kim would not go so far as to break up the coalition.
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