Lee Nak-yeon Side: "Democratic Party Leadership Must Take Responsibility for Unpopular Primary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The camp of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon expressed "deep regret" toward the Democratic Party leadership.

On the 25th, Representative Oh Young-hoon, who serves as the spokesperson for Lee Nak-yeon's camp, stated in a press release, "Regarding the results of the 23rd Supreme Council meeting held this morning, Lee Nak-yeon's camp expresses deep regret over the unilateral attitude of the party leadership."

The Supreme Council decided not to accept the demand to change the presidential primary schedule and resolved to maintain the party constitution's rule of "election 180 days before the presidential election."

Representative Oh criticized, "The decision made by the party leadership is a unilateral and arbitrary decision that ignores the opinions of the majority of lawmakers," adding, "It is clearly a bad precedent that destroys the democratic tradition that the Democratic Party has upheld."

He further delivered a direct blow, saying, "The leadership, which decided on a primary without public interest due to COVID-19 non-face-to-face measures, summer vacations, and the Olympic Games, will not be free from responsibility in the future."

On the same day, Democratic Party chief spokesperson Ko Yong-jin told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, "There were Supreme Council members who insisted on postponement, but everyone agreed that the decision could no longer be delayed, and it was settled by the Supreme Council's resolution." He added, "If the schedule (180 days before the presidential election) is to be changed, a party affairs committee meeting is necessary, but if it remains as is, the Supreme Council can decide."

The faction advocating for postponing the primary views the current leadership's decision as ineffective under the party constitution and regulations and is preparing to hold a separate party affairs committee meeting for discussion. They regard the party affairs committee as a mandatory step. A senior lawmaker criticized, "Saying that the party affairs committee is not necessary is a violation of the party constitution and regulations."

The faction pushing for postponement is reported to have already circulated a petition among party affairs committee members to meet the "one-third of total members' request" condition for convening a meeting. Depending on the discussions within each camp, a request to convene the party affairs committee may be submitted to the party.

Representative Song has emphasized that the authority to decide the primary schedule lies with him, but the opposing side argues that without going through the party affairs committee as stipulated by the party constitution and regulations, the decision is invalid. If the party leader refuses to convene the party affairs committee, the floor leader or the elected Supreme Council members in order of vote count can convene it. The mere submission of a request to convene the party affairs committee signifies a power struggle within the party, leading to a split in the Democratic Party and putting Representative Song's leadership at great risk of being shaken.