Talks of defectors from the ruling Saenuri Party joining hands to form an alliance gained momentum Monday, a day after parliamentary speaker and ruling party heavyweight Chung Ui-hwa declared he would not be returning to the party that he said had “destroyed” partisan politics in the recent nomination upheaval.
At the center of the discussion is Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a former close aide to President Park Geun-hye, who recently departed from the party amid a nomination feud, declaring his independent candidacy.

“(The Saenuri Party) has completely crushed the basic principles of a constitutional state,” Chung was quoted as telling reporters on Sunday, criticizing the party’s recent candidate nomination for the April 13 general election.

“I have no intention of returning to Saenuri (after the term as speaker ends),” he said. Chung had left the party upon becoming the speaker in accordance to Assembly regulations.

He also hinted at creating a new political entity, be it a nonpartisan alliance or a new political party.

So far, a total of 11 lawmakers have left the Saenuri Party. At least three of them from the Daegu constituencies are considered staunch dissenters of President Park and the mainstream Saenuri.

The most plausible scenario is that Chung will join hands with Rep. Yoo Seong-min, who announced his defection last week after failing to receive the party’s nomination.

With no Saenuri rival to run in his constituency in Daegu, Yoo has effectively secured his win. He thus set out to help other party defectors, kindling speculations that such solidarity will lead to a stronger form of alliance.

So far, the pro-Yoo group, mostly consisting of junior reformists, is considered to have insufficient leverage against the ruling party leadership and the presidential house, but it is likely to gain momentum, should Chung step into the picture.

The parliamentary speaker, who is also an influential fifth-termer in the southern city of Busan, gained himself the reputation of  being a “man of principles” after he deterred the ruling party’s push of disputed laws and called for democratic debates.

Their alliance, should it take form, is expected to bring together reform-driven conservative voters throughout the Gyeongsang regions, ranging from Daegu to Busan.

Following the nomination feuds and Yoo’s consequent defection, the Saenuri Party’s approval ratings in its stronghold Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province took a visible dip.

According to a survey conducted by local pollster Realmeter on 2,522 voters nationwide from March 21-25, the party’s ratings in the corresponding regions stood at 56 percent, down 14 percent from the previous week.

The party, in the meantime, said the runaway members, should they intend to return, will never be welcomed.

“It is nonsense that those who defected should return to the Saenuri Party after being elected as independent candidates,” said floor leader Rep. Won Yoo-chul on Monday.

But senior Saenuri defector Lee Jae-oh pointed out that the party’s leadership members, including Won himself, had defected and returned to the party in the past.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)