Proactive Attitudes of Yoon Seok-yeol and Kwon Young-se
Signs of Change Detected Within the People Party
Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, is delivering opening remarks at the election campaign headquarters meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] With 30 days left until the presidential election, the issue of unification has emerged as a major variable that could change the election landscape.
On the 7th, Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, after concluding a party campaign meeting, responded to reporters' question about whether the possibility of unification is open by saying, "Of course." Until the previous day, Kwon had dismissed the possibility of unification but took a more progressive stance within a day.
On the same day, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party candidate, also expressed a progressive stance on unification. In an interview with a media outlet, he said about unification with candidate Ahn, "There is no need to exclude it," adding, "If unification happens, it should be decided decisively between candidate Ahn and me, not publicly disclosed and conducted outside." Both of them showed a changed position compared to their previous avoidance of mentioning unification in public appearances.
Kwon explained Yoon's interview remarks as "the candidate's consistent thought," saying, "It is not polite to suggest unification to a candidate who is working hard to win, and the intention is that unification should happen quietly." Regarding the deadline for possible unification, he said, "Some say it is the printing of the ballot papers (on the 27th), and others say it is anytime before early voting (on the 4th of next month), so it will be somewhere in between," implying that unification discussions could take place until just before election day.
Voices calling for the necessity of unification have already begun to emerge within the campaign headquarters. The day before, Won Hee-ryong, head of the policy headquarters of the campaign, said in a media interview, "To win a razor-thin presidential election, we must unify with candidate Ahn," and also expressed that the idea of a 'joint government' is "possible." However, campaign officials still maintain that it depends on the candidate's decision.
Within the party, the atmosphere of unification being put on the agenda has recently been sensed. Although only a month remains until the presidential election, the support rates of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and Yoon are in a "neck-and-neck" race in various polls, making a decisive move necessary. A senior member of the People Power Party said in a phone interview on the same day, "It is nonsense for the opposition party to win without unification," adding, "Behind the public's demand for regime change lies the necessity of unification." He also said, "Among the lawmakers, many recently sympathize with the need for unification but are cautious about the timing," and "Soon, lawmakers will express their messages more openly."
The People Party's position inevitably faces deepening concerns. As of this day, in poll results (Realmeter·KSOI), candidate Ahn's support rate has fallen to single digits, and the Democratic Party side is also sending 'unification love calls' to candidate Ahn. Choi Jin-seok, standing election committee member of the People Party, recently showed a changed stance in a media interview, saying, "Politics is a living thing. What the people want is the most important." The day before, candidate Ahn told reporters, "There are differing opinions within the People Power Party, and they are fighting among themselves, so what can I say about that?" thus withholding his position.
However, there are also views that it is too early to start unification discussions at this point. A campaign official of the People Power Party said, "If negotiations drag on, public opinion may worsen," adding, "For now, it is better for each candidate to make efforts to strengthen themselves and then unite at the decisive moment for the greater cause of regime change."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
