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Former four-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won (center) answers questions from reporters before meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at a restaurant in Seoul on Monday (Yonhap) |
Na Kyung-won, one of the frontrunners in the ruling party’s leadership race, has decided not to attend Wednesday’s local party convention, her aide said.
Na was scheduled to attend the Daejeon Branch New Year’s event of the People’s Power Party in the central city in the afternoon, but decided not to attend without giving a reason.
Amid heightened tensions with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office, the meeting drew attention as not only Rep. Na, but also Rep. Kim Ki-hyun, a rival candidate in the party leader election, was scheduled to attend.
Na’s decision to dismiss her as Yoon’s chief of staff, Kim Dae-gi, as vice-chairman of the presidential commission and climate ambassador, was criticized by those who opposed her. It came a day after she publicly rejected her allegations that she may have been influenced by a “distorted” account from…
Kim said Yoon made the decision based on an “accurate understanding” of the situation.
“She herself is well aware of what the president thinks of her recent actions.
The unexpectedly strong backlash is widely seen as another sign that Yoon’s office is against Na’s run for the PPP leadership in favor of Rep. Kim as the next leader of the ruling party. rice field.
Na has yet to formally declare her bid, but is a strong favorite in the race. The next leader is determined solely by party member votes.
The feud between Na and the presidential office began earlier this month after she announced a population policy proposal without prior consultation with the top office. Yoon’s office promptly rejected the proposal, expressing her displeasure.
The aide said he could announce whether Na would run for party leadership after Yoon returned from an overseas trip later this week. However, Na’s decision not to attend Wednesday’s party event has fueled speculation that she may be leaning towards her candidacy.
The competition is heating up as the next leader will oversee the party until next year’s parliamentary elections and could influence decisions about who is nominated to the party.
According to recent polls, Rep. Kim is leading, Rep. Na is second, and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo is third. Under the revised party rules, a runoff vote will be held unless someone wins a majority of the votes. (union)
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