Stepping up its reform efforts, the ruling Grand National Party’s emergency leadership council decided Monday to rule out 25 percent of its current lawmakers from general election nominations.

The announcement came a day after the main opposition Democratic United Party elected its new leadership and pledged to reclaim power through this year’s political races.

“The council shall draw a set of objective standards to judge the lawmakers’ competitiveness in general elections,” said Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, the committee spokesperson.

Based on this criteria, the lowest-ranking quarter will be excluded from the party’s nomination for the April election, he said.

As eight of 144 GNP lawmakers have so far declined to run, 34 out of the remaining 136 will be dropped from the list.

“The decision reflects public opinion, which called for changes and reforms,” said Lee Sang-don, a senior member of the decision-making body.

“Though some may dissent, the plan was the best way to embrace the public’s calls.”

The council’s move was an unprecedented one as the party’s nomination screening committee usually holds full authority over the issue.

The party’s reformers and aides to committee chairperson Rep. Park Geun-hye generally agreed with the committee’s announcement but the faction loyal to Lee Myung-bak objected as the nomination reshuffle would mostly affect its members.

“I fundamentally support the committee’s nomination reform plan,” said Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, the leading reformer of the party.

He nevertheless stressed that the party should also adopt a complete open primary to guarantee fair processes.

“It remains disputable whether the committee’s set of standards will be strictly fair and objective,” said a pro-Lee figure who refused to be named.

“Such measures should first be confirmed by party members.”

While factions remained at odds over the reformation plan, the party is scheduled to hold a general meeting on Tuesday.

The interim council also discussed whether to exclude those charged with sex crimes and other irregularities from nomination and to offer extra points to novice female figures in evaluating their candidacy, the spokesperson said.

In 2010, Rep. Kang Yong-seok left the party amid allegations that he made sexually harassing remarks to female students.

Also, earlier this month, Rep. Choi Gu-sik also gave up his party membership, following the prosecutorial probe into one of his former aides over a cyber attack on the national election watchdog.

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