South Korean court clears way for new conservative party candidate amid dispute
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Independent preliminary presidential candidate Han Duck-soo (left) and People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo meeting for the second consecutive day to discuss a possible unification of their candidacies ahead of the June 3 presidential election.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SEOUL - A Seoul court on May 9 ruled that the main conservative party could hold another convention to agree on a presidential candidate, amid a bitter dispute over who should represent the party in the June 3 election
With the presidential election less than a month away, uniting conservatives behind a single candidate is seen as crucial if the People Power Party (PPP) is to stand any chance of success against Democratic Party front runner Lee Jae-myung.
The PPP has asked its nominee Kim Moon-soo to merge his campaign with former prime minister Han Duck-soo, an independent candidate, but the process has descended into angry recriminations.
Mr Kim requested an injunction against his own party to stop it from naming a new candidate. His supporters had also asked the court to block a new convention planned for May 11, when candidate registration closes.
On May 9, the court rejected both applications, a spokesperson for the Seoul Southern District Court said.
At a gathering with PPP lawmakers, where he was initially greeted with applause and a bouquet, Mr Kim stressed that he had been chosen as the party’s official presidential candidate through its primary.
“What is happening with unification now is nothing more or less than an attempt to bring me down and make an unaffiliated candidate who has never been verified in elections our party's presidential candidate,” Mr Kim told the party members.
“How can I join this kind of unification?” he said, accusing the party leadership of pressuring him to agree to terms to pick a single candidate between him and Mr Han.
Party leaders have demanded Mr Kim negotiate with Mr Han to decide who will contest the election as the PPP candidate.
Mr Han, who resigned as acting leader last week to run in the polls, is not a member of the PPP but was prime minister under ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol, a PPP member.
Yoon was removed from office in April
On May 8, Mr Kim and Mr Han met at an outdoor coffee shop, but besides a hug and a handshake, were unable to reach a resolution on the issue.
Mr Han has said he will drop out of the race without an agreement with Mr Kim before May 11. REUTERS
