MDP Presidential Hopeful Calls For Early Choice of a Nominee

Rhee In-je, a member of the Millennium Democratic Party's Supreme Council and a presidential hopeful, said over the weekend that even feudal monarchs who inherited their thrones made different policies than their fathers, so it was inevitable for the next governing party presidential candidate to distinguish himself from President Kim Dae-jung.

Saying next year's local elections will be a preliminary round for the presidential election that December, Mr. Rhee said cryptically that it was only a question of common sense whether it would be more advantageous for the governing party to campaign under President Kim Dae-jung's banner or that of the party's presidential candidate. The most plausible interpretation of Mr. Rhee's remark is that he wants a ruling party candidate for president named before the local elections.

In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo on Saturday, Mr. Rhee said it was a good thing that the date of the party's convention and discussion about naming a candidate early is now under discussion in party councils. He said a complete schedule of events needs to be in place by the end of this year.

Mr. Rhee's remark seemed especially significant coming in the wake of the Millennium Democrats' trouncing in Thursday's elections for three Assembly seats. Presidential hopefuls in the governing party have been trying to shore up public support and to increase their chances of snagging the nomination after voters gave the party a thumbs-down both in Seoul and in the eastern province of Gangwon.

"President Kim may or may not express his preference during the process of nominating a candidate, but he will definitely not turn down the person who has the largest degree of public support," Mr. Rhee said. "The practice of having the incumbent president decide who will become the next candidate starts from the arrogant thought that whomever he picks will win the election. That is a thing of the past."

Regarding talk of fielding a candidate from the southeastern Yeongnam region and a possible alliance of "reform-minded" politicians, Mr. Rhee said such ideas do not help the party. He criticized their proponents for stirring up regional conflicts and for trying to bypass the front runner － presumably him. Asked whether he would run as an independent if he loses in his nomination bid, Mr. Rhee said the process will be conducted fairly, and that people who defect after a fair process are a "disgrace."

by Kim Chong-hyuk