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Main opposition party to hold open primaries for by-elections

Main opposition party to hold open primaries for by-elections

Posted February. 28, 2015 07:16,   

한국어

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) has decided to nominate its candidate for the April 29 parliamentary by-elections through open primaries without "strategic nominations" by the central party.

The party`s spokesman Kim Young-rok said Friday, "Open primaries will reflect party members` votes and public opinion polls `half and half.` The primaries will take place on March 14 after document reviews and interviews."

On Friday, when the party finished receiving applications for candidacy, three people, including Rep. Eun Soo-mi, who was elected on a proportional slate, applied for the Jungwon electoral district in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, former presidential spokesman Jung Tae-ho and former lawmaker Kim Hee-chul were vying for the Gwanak B district in southern Seoul. For the Seo B district in Gwangju, three people, including former lawmaker Cho Young-taek and Chonnam National University professor Kim Ha-joong, submitted their bids.

Chun Jung-Bae, former justice minister and an influential member of the NPAD, did not submit his application, sparking speculation that he would withdraw from the party to run in the by-elections independently.

"I will not run as an NPAD candidate," Chun said Friday. "I will make my position clear after listening to the opinions of Gwangju citizens and people from various circles."