Lee Jun-seok's Final Ultimatum to Ahn Cheol-soo... People's Party Says "The Main Opposition's Inclusiveness Is Like a Flea's Liver"

Lee Jun-seok "If Ahn Cheol-soo proposes a meeting, I will eagerly accept, but the deadline is within next week"
People's Party "We can only perceive it as high-handed bullying"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The conflict over the merger issue between the People Power Party and the People’s Party is worsening. When Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, issued an ultimatum to conclude the matter within next week citing his vacation schedule, the People’s Party pushed back, referring to it as ‘fleck of a flea’s liver’ and other expressions.

On the 31st, Lee stated on social media (SNS), "If the People’s Party and its leader Ahn Cheol-soo propose a meeting for the merger, I will welcome it anytime with open arms," but added, "However, I set the deadline as next week." He thus notified that the deadline for the merger with the People’s Party is next week.

He said, "We have been conducting merger negotiations with the People’s Party for a long time and there is no reason to drag it out," adding, "After next week, I will go on vacation, and after the vacation, even if I meet Ahn Cheol-soo, it will be difficult to have enough time for a proper merger before the bus departs."

Lee also said, "People from the People’s Party intervened in the party convention with the bold claim that there would be no merger if I became the party leader," and "Despite such intervention that goes against the spirit of fairness, I am showing willingness for the merger for the greater good."

The People’s Party reacted angrily to this stance.

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People’s Party, said in a statement, "Leader Lee has been pressuring the People’s Party day after day," and added, "The members and supporters of the People’s Party cannot help but perceive this as very high-handed bullying."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She said, "It is hard to find sincerity in the merger when the deadline is unilaterally set and notified citing his vacation schedule," and "The weight of sincerity of the main opposition party seems as light as a feather, and its inclusiveness appears as small as a fleck of a flea’s liver, which is not only the feeling or perspective of the People’s Party members."

Spokesperson Ahn added, "Please show respect to the party and its leader who helped with all their might and achieved the greatest results in the April 7 by-election, as well as the party that is the merger partner," and "Actions that hurt the hearts of the People’s Party members and supporters and cause humiliation must stop now."

However, the People’s Party reiterated its intention to continue discussions on opposition unity. Spokesperson Ahn said, "Negotiations must be conducted with mutual respect to create greater synergy and increase public consensus," and "The People’s Party will sincerely consider and seek the best measures for merger and integration to realize the public’s desire for regime change through innovation and greater expansion of the opposition, and will inform the public of its position at an appropriate time."