People Power Party Unveils Citizen Participation Primary Card
People's Party Prefers Competitiveness Polls
Possibility of Disagreement Over Timing
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] With the conclusion of the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate primary, the main event of unifying the opposition candidates has begun. Both Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People's Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, agree on the necessity of unification, but their positions differ significantly on the specific methods, leading to an intense 'rule battle' expected.
On the 4th, Oh Se-hoon, who was selected as the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, and Park Hyung-joon, who was selected as the candidate for Busan mayor, are shouting "Fighting" with Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, at the announcement event of the Seoul and Busan mayoral candidate primary results held at the People Power Party central office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
First, the People's Party believes that the opposition unification process should be used as an opportunity to enhance competitiveness in the main election. They propose using the two weeks until the candidate registration begins on the 18th as 'the opposition's time' to generate a convention effect. Conversely, the People Power Party prioritizes 'selecting a candidate who can win,' showing a somewhat different approach. Their plan is to buy time for Oh's support rate to rise and gain a favorable position in the showdown with Ahn. On the other hand, the People's Party prefers faster unification negotiations to solidify Ahn's prevailing popularity.
Accordingly, there is a significant difference in methodology. Kim Geun-sik, head of the Vision Strategy Office of the People Power Party, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and confirmed that a citizen participation primary plan is officially under discussion. Kim said, "We internally reviewed this (citizen participation primary) as one of the cards for unification and have been reporting regularly to Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party." The People Power Party is considering proposing citizen participation primaries, jury systems, or a combination of these methods in addition to the polling method for unification. The People's Party prefers polls asking who is more competitive against Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate.
Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
The timing of unification is also a factor complicating the agreement process. The People's Party insists on concluding it as soon as possible, while the People Power Party aims for at least until the candidate registration on the 18th. The unification deadline is the first candidate registration day, but it is also possible that the decision will be made around the 29th, when ballots are printed, or on the 2nd of next month, when early voting begins.
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