Ahn Cheol-soo's People's Party Declares 'Proportional Representation Party'... "No District Candidates Will Be Nominated"

"I will uphold the path of centrist politics while judging the Moon administration"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The People’s Party has officially declared its ‘proportional party transformation’ by not fielding candidates in constituencies for the April 15 general election. This is interpreted as a self-help measure following People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo’s decision to maintain an independent course. In political circles, it is being evaluated that a de facto anti-Moon alliance between the United Future Party and the People’s Party in constituencies has been formed.

On the 28th, Leader Ahn held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall and stated, “We have decided not to field candidates in 253 constituency electoral districts in this general election,” adding, “Instead, we will pioneer a practical centrist path through proportional representation nominations and lead innovation and policy competition not only among opposition parties but across all parties.”

Leader Ahn emphasized, “Citizens who believe that South Korea cannot continue as it is should choose opposition candidates in constituency elections to judge the Moon Jae-in administration, and in party votes, select the cleanest, most innovative, and future-oriented party to definitely change South Korean politics,” and added, “I am confident that today’s decision will lead to the overall victory of the opposition in this general election.”

Leader Ahn explained, “I have opposed political engineering-based conservative unification and ‘blind anti-Moon alliances’ from the beginning. Nevertheless, I thought that at least one party that creates alternatives and works properly must survive to change Korean politics,” and continued, “While pursuing practical and centrist politics, we had to find a way to judge the administration. The People’s Party reached the conclusion that these two goals could be achieved through the sacrificial decision to boldly not nominate candidates in constituencies.”

Leader Ahn said, “If we focus on the party vote competition for proportional representation and fiercely engage in innovation competition, we will be able to truly compete over who can change Korean politics and develop South Korea,” adding, “I am convinced that the political structure that truly benefits our people is a multi-party system with no majority party and a minority government. While judging the administration, we will uphold the difficult and lonely path of practical and centrist politics.”