The ruling party’s parliamentary majority was put at stake on Wednesday as an increasing number of incumbents who had been excluded from the nomination list decided to leave the party and run as independents in the April general election.
Reps. Yoon Sang-hyun and Joo Ho-young announced their defection from the Saenuri Party earlier in the day. A total of eight incumbent lawmakers have left the party, bringing its number of parliamentary seats to 149. It is just two seats short of losing the majority in the 292-member National Assembly.
The conservative party is likely to lose its majority status as more are likely to quit the party that has been marred by the nomination battle. Among them are Reps. Yoo Seung-min and Lee Jae-oh who each lead their own faction of several Saenuri lawmakers. Both were denied the party’s nomination.
The ruling Saenuri Party`s former whip Rep. Yoo Seung-min stays at home to consider over whether to run for the April elections. Yonhap
Observers, however, noted that the party does not appear rattled by the development as some of those running as independents still hold political affiliation and loyalty to the party. Furthermore, the party seems confident of winning back the majority in one month’s time. Yoon, for instance, has decided to run as an independent for now to save the party from public backlash after being caught making coarse remarks about the party chairman in a nomination feud.
The defection of former floor leader Yoo, however, is expected to deal a blow to the party as undecided voters and centrists may lean against the Saenuri for eventually forcing him out given his squabble with President Park Geun-hye last year.
It was also reported that Yoo would announce his independent bid later in the day. Election law states that candidates cannot change their party membership status from the day the official candidacy registration begins, which will happen on Thursday.
By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)