An's Final Ultimatum for Resignation
Lunch with Bareunmirae Party Lawmakers
Son: "No Different Story from Yoo Seung-min Faction"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo demanded the transition to an emergency committee system and the resignation of Bareunmirae Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu during their first meeting after Ahn's return to Korea. In response, Sohn avoided giving a direct answer and effectively expressed his refusal. Within the party, there is speculation that former lawmaker Ahn will actively begin discussions on forming a 'new party.'
A Bareunmirae Party lawmaker said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, "Leader Sohn intends to hold onto party leadership, while former lawmaker Ahn plans to meet with lawmakers and propose forming a new party together if there is no response from Sohn," adding, "Opinions among lawmakers about forming a new party vary."
On the same day, former lawmaker Ahn had lunch with Bareunmirae Party lawmakers at a Chinese restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul. This meeting is expected to broadly discuss the future direction of the Bareunmirae Party, including the formation of a new party. Pro-party leadership lawmakers held a separate private meeting just before the meeting with former leader Ahn to coordinate their positions.
On the afternoon of the 27th, former lawmaker Ahn had a private conversation with Leader Sohn at the National Assembly for about 40 minutes. During this meeting, Ahn proposed three things: ▲transition to an emergency committee ▲holding an early party convention to elect new leadership ▲conducting a vote of confidence on Leader Sohn. Regarding the transition to an emergency committee, Ahn suggested either that he himself serve as the emergency committee chairman or that party members decide through a full party vote.
After the meeting, former lawmaker Ahn told reporters, "We had an in-depth conversation about how to revive the party that is in difficulty and the way forward," adding, "I asked them to think about it until the lawmakers' (lunch) meeting and give me an answer."
Leader Sohn came out of his office about 10 minutes after former lawmaker Ahn left. Regarding Ahn's proposal, Sohn said, "I will review it," but expressed displeasure, stating, "There is almost no difference from what the Yoo Seung-min faction said before. There was no reason given for why the leadership system needs to be reorganized or any concrete plan, nor was there an explanation as to why I should serve as the emergency committee chairman." When asked if he interpreted it as a call for him to step down, Sohn replied, "Well, I don't know."
Jang Jin-young, chief secretary to the Bareunmirae Party leader, said on tbs radio on the 28th, "Leader Sohn proposed handing the party over to the future generation, stepping down himself, and having former lawmaker Ahn support from the second line, but they just listened and gave no response," adding, "Leader Sohn keeps saying that he will naturally step down if there is a legitimate reason. However, ironically, they keep providing reasons that prevent him from stepping down."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
