Ahn Cheol-soo: "The opposition is disliked, so they don't listen no matter what I say"
Claims an 'Innovation Platform' that can encompass centrists, conservatives, and progressives
Some in the opposition urge introducing 'citizen candidates' in next year's by-elections
Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending and giving a lecture at the People’s Future Forum seminar titled "Post-Corona Era, South Korea’s Innovation Tasks and Future Vision," held on the morning of the 6th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, urged a 'reorganization of the opposition' on the 6th, saying, "There is too much aversion toward the opposition, including the main opposition party." This is interpreted as a call to replace the government through a new broad opposition coalition that can encompass all opposition parties, including the People Power Party.
Some speculate that this could give momentum to the 'citizen candidate theory,' which proposes recruiting candidates from across the entire opposition without party labels in next year’s Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections.
During a lecture invited by the National Future Forum held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building that morning, when asked by Kim Sung-won, senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, whether he was considering running for Seoul mayor, Ahn said, "I will do anything for a regime change," but added, "The opposition is so disliked that no matter what I say, it is not heard."
He continued, "If we continue in the same way, I think even the Seoul mayoral by-election next year has low chances of winning," and emphasized, "The emergency committee led by Kim Jong-in started in early June, but there has been no change in approval ratings for five months. We need to find another way."
He then asserted, "The only conclusion I have come to is the reorganization of the opposition."
Regarding the opposition reorganization, he explained, "It is a completely different new innovation platform," and added, "I believe it can create a foundation that encompasses not only the centrist voters but also progressives who desire rational reform."
Ahn’s call for opposition reorganization is interpreted as a suggestion to form a so-called 'big tent' that goes beyond the People Power Party-led opposition coalition and embraces a wide political spectrum.
Some view Ahn’s remarks as giving momentum to the 'citizen candidate theory' in the upcoming Seoul mayoral by-election. The citizen candidate theory argues that candidates should be selected through a so-called 'citizen primary' that includes figures outside the parties to enhance candidate competitiveness.
Earlier, on the 4th, Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "Can we guarantee victory in the Seoul mayoral election with the current strength of the People Power Party alone?" and urged, "If we cannot win under our own name, we must win under the name of a citizen candidate."
On the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also mentioned at a press conference, "If the proportion of party members with voting rights increases, it may be distant from the preferences of Seoul citizens, so I think it would be right for the party candidate to be as close as possible to a citizen candidate."
However, the realization of the citizen candidate theory is expected to face difficulties. There are many voices within the People Power Party expressing opposition to the citizen candidate theory.
Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman, responded to a question about opposition coalition at a press conference after the National Assembly expanded party officials meeting, saying, "What else is there besides our People Power Party in the opposition?" This is interpreted as a negative stance toward opposition coalition, as there is no major opposition party other than the People Power Party, which represents the entire opposition.
There is also a view that the People Power Party should field its own citizen candidate. Kim Geun-sik, professor at Kyungnam University and head of the People Power Party’s Songpa-byeong district in Seoul, wrote on Facebook on the 5th, criticizing the party’s internal calls for a 'broad opposition citizen candidate,' saying, "It is irresponsible to give up our own banner as if surrendering to outsiders out of a sense of defeat," and argued, "The People Power Party candidate should become the citizen candidate and generate excitement, emotion, and cheers."
He added, "It should be self-strengthening first, then coalition," and pointed out, "It is not reasonable for a candidate with 49% support to surrender to a candidate with 2% support."
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