[Summary] Ahn's 'One-Shot Primary' Proposal Met with Kim Jong-in's "No Need to Discuss"... Long Road Ahead for Opposition Unity

Chairman Kim: "There is Common Sense in Politics"
"People Power Party is a Party Preparing for Next Year's Presidential Election"
Representative Ahn: "Requesting Party Membership from a Party Leader is an Unreasonable Demand"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Internal conflicts within the opposition are deepening over the plan to unify candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election. Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, proposed a so-called 'one-shot primary' by opening the People Power Party’s primary platform, the main opposition party, to the entire opposition bloc. However, Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People Power Party’s Emergency Committee, dismissed the proposal, stating that "it is not too late to discuss it after completing our party’s procedures."

After the party’s emergency committee meeting on the 21st, Kim met with reporters and drew a line on the opposition’s candidate unification plan, saying, "We can consider other matters after the People Power Party’s representative is confirmed," and added, "There is no need to discuss it any further."

Kim also strongly criticized Ahn’s proposed one-shot primary, saying, "To put it simply, politics also has a certain common sense," and "We cannot engage in politics that defies common sense."

He continued, "He (Ahn) is also a leader of a political party, but is it politically ethical to run in a primary under the name of an independent candidate while the primary is being held by another party?" and pointed out, "I hope he understands that our People Power Party is a party that must prepare for next year’s presidential election."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 19th, Ahn expressed his intention to participate in the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral primary at a National Assembly press conference. However, on that day, Ahn set the condition of a one-shot primary, requesting that the People Power Party’s primary platform be opened to the entire opposition bloc.

He said, "It is doubtful whether the public sentiment that had high expectations for the opposition, as shown in the New Year’s opinion polls, will continue. The opposition may once again head toward defeat," and urged, "I ask the main opposition party to take the lead and become the game maker for the opposition’s victory."

He added, "Before the election, asking the leader of a political party to leave their party and join ours is an unreasonable demand from the start," and proposed, "Let us unconditionally start practical discussions, including managing this open primary platform under the responsibility of the People Power Party, to select the most competitive unified opposition candidate."

This is interpreted as a statement indicating difficulty in accepting the method of Ahn, leader of the People’s Party, joining the People Power Party to participate in the primary.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at the announcement event titled "The Lost Decade of Park Won-soon's Administration, a Promise for a New Leap" held at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, the People Power Party drew a line, stating that Ahn’s one-shot primary proposal is "unacceptable."

After Ahn’s National Assembly press conference, Kim Jong-in met with reporters and dismissed the proposal as "a trick."

He explained, "(The one-shot primary proposal) is Ahn’s position. It is unacceptable," and added, "We can confirm our candidate first and then discuss the unification issue; it is not too late."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also pointed out at a press conference after the party’s policy workshop, "It is the most favorable condition for (Ahn) himself."

He added, "According to the party’s constitution and rules, Ahn’s demand is difficult," and said, "I understand that the direction is to discuss unification after our party’s candidate is selected."