"Open the 야 Primary," Ahn Cheol-soo's Demand... Jeong Cheong-rae Says "It Means 국민의힘 Should Be the Scapegoat"

"Not planning to join inside, wants to eat outside the People Power Party"
Representative Ahn: "It's unreasonable to tell a party leader to leave their party"

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] On the 19th, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, evaluated Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and his so-called demand for 'opening the primary platform' by saying, "It means he wants to consume the People Power Party from outside." On the same day, Ahn urged that the primary platform of the People’s Party, the main opposition party, be opened to the entire opposition regarding the upcoming April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election opposition candidate unification.

Jeong stated in a post on his Facebook that "Ahn Cheol-soo’s true intention is simply, 'I have no intention of entering and being consumed inside the People Power Party, but I want to consume the People Power Party from outside. So, People Power Party supporters! Please continue to support me so that my approval rating does not fall.'"

He added, "In conclusion, I believe Ahn Cheol-soo’s thought is as above: 'I don’t want to suffer losses, I want the People Power Party to be the sacrificial lamb on the altar, and I will hold the right to the ritual.'"

On the same day, Ahn expressed his intention to participate in the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral main primary at a National Assembly press conference. However, he urged that the 'People Power Party’s primary platform be opened to the entire opposition.'

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, is attending a press conference related to the opposition unity held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Ahn pointed out, "It is questionable whether the public sentiment that had high expectations for the opposition, as shown in the New Year opinion polls, will continue," and "The opposition may once again enter the path of defeat."

He continued, "I ask the main opposition party to take the initiative and become the game maker for the opposition’s victory," and proposed, "Let us unconditionally start practical discussions, including ways to manage this open primary platform under the responsibility of the People Power Party, to select the most competitive unified opposition candidate."

He also said, "Asking the leader of a public party to leave their party and join ours ahead of the election is an unreasonable story from the start," and criticized, "While I understand the People Power Party’s intention to play the role of the main opposition party, a one-sided demand that does not consider the demands of the various existing opposition supporters is not reasonable."

This is interpreted as a statement that it is difficult to accept Ahn, the leader of the People’s Party, joining the People Power Party and participating in the primary. In fact, there have been negative voices within the People’s Party regarding Ahn’s plan to join the People Power Party and participate in the primary.

On the 22nd of last month, Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, said in a radio interview, "At the current situation, (Ahn’s joining the People Power Party) does not seem like a good choice," and added, "There are various opinions emerging about the unification method, so we need to discuss it."

Also, regarding Ahn’s proposal to 'open the primary platform' on the same day, he explained, "It is not a completely new method," and "The U.S. Democratic Party is already implementing it. Even those who are not Democratic Party members are allowed to participate, and they have selected the winning candidate to oppose the Republican candidate."

He emphasized, "Let us pledge to the public that whoever is selected as the unified candidate, we will take the lead and work for their victory," and "We will conduct a positive election, not a negative one, and accept the results."