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At an extraordinary party meeting on Tuesday, the Grand National Party elected its chairperson and made a promise that it would eliminate dishonor and mistakes, and make a fresh start. The election, however, was shabby and failed to gain much public attention. No doubt the GNP¡¯s current situation was reflected in this event. Unfortunately, the opposition party has no time to pay attention to such outward appearances because of a more pressing problem.
The general election is 22 days away. If the surveys are correct, the GNP¡¯s existence as the influential political party will be uncertain after the general election.
The foremost mission for the new GNP chairperson Park Geun-hye and the party's central committee is not to analyze the current situation or to argue about illegal electoral funds. These actions are now meaningless. The support of the people cannot be regained simply by electing a new chairperson or moving the party office to a humble tent.
The people are asking GNP members a more fundamental question: ¡°Why do you exist?¡± The question is: What kind of a political party is it and what can it do for the people?
The GNP central committee must answer these questions right now. There is no time to spare or to hesitate. If the GNP wants to continue as a political party even after the election and if it needs people¡¯s support to make that happen, it must be able to convince the people it will serve them.
Without a convincing explanation and consent from the people, the opposition party could possibly fade into oblivion after the election. It is Park¡¯s appointed task to present a reasonable, convincing explanation, and this could be the most effective election strategy for the Party.
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