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Parliamentary by-election for 15 seats starts nationwide

Parliamentary by-election for 15 seats starts nationwide

Posted July. 30, 2014 06:57,   

한국어

The day for parliamentary by-election and re-election has approached. Dubbed the "mini general election," the elections will determine 15 seats of the National Assembly, the biggest number for a by-election and re-election in history. As such, the outcome will lead to a major shakeup of power landscape within the leading and opposition parties. The question is whether the ruling Saenuri Party’s chief Kim Moo-sung will make a soft landing in his leadership, or co-chairs Kim Han-gil and Ahn Cheol-soo of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy will steer their party to victory.

Voting hours will run from 6 a.m. through 8 p.m. at 1,003 polling places nationwide. The Saenuri Party expects it can win in eight to nine areas including in Gyeonggi Province`s Pyeongtaek and Kimpo according to internal analysis it conducted. The New Politics Alliance for Democracy believes it can win in six to seven places including in Yeongtong in Suwon.

On the eve of the parliamentary by-elections Tuesday, the leaders of the main and opposition parties had their final campaign spurt in the Seoul metropolitan area, the main battlefield. Saenuri Party leader Kim went through a rigorous schedule going 225 kilometers from Pyeongtaek and to Kimpo and then to Dongjak District in Seoul. New Politics Alliance for Democracy co-chairs Kim and Ahn went on a guerilla-style campaign rally in a vehicle running from Suwon to Seoul, Kimpo and Pyeongtaek, aiming to gain popularity by the working class.