By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Wednesday elected Rep. Kim Deog-ryong, one of the party’s stalwarts, as its floor leader.

Kim, a moderate fifth-term lawmaker, won 66 out of 119 votes in a three-way race also involving third-term Reps. Kim Moon-soo and Ahn Taik-soo. Kim and Ahn received 39 and 14 votes respectively.

The GNP’s choice of the bigwig from Socho, a high-income district in southern Seoul, is intended to improve its image as a stable party, while drawing a contrast with the ruling Uri Party’s policies for reform. Uri recently elected Chun Jung-bae, a reformist, as its floor leader.

``I intend to have our party stage a contest with the ruling camp for sound reform policies, but will sternly deal with the Uri Party’s unilateral and self-righteous reform drives,’’ Kim said in his acceptance speech.

The defeat of Ahn, a native of Taegu, was expected in advance as the party members didn’t want to have two leaders from the same region. Park Geun-hye, party chairman, also hails from a constituency in the GNP’s stronghold.

Kim Moon-soo, a reform-minded lawmaker, recently claimed that he is the right politician to confront Chun and asked for the party members’ support for that purpose, but his pleas fell on deaf ears among fellow lawmakers.

With the two major parties completing on the setup of their leadership, they will begin negotiations for the launch of the next Assembly, including who will become the Speaker and chairmen of each committee, which will open on May 30.

Kim Deog-ryong took over the post from Hong Sa-duk, who failed to win an Assembly seat in the elections last month due to his active role for the GNP’s failed attempt to oust President Roh Moo-hyun.

In the April 15 parliamentary polls, the GNP lost its majority status in the Assembly, taking 121 out of the 299 seats that were up for grabs.

im@koreatimes.co.kr