Ahn Cheol-soo: "Shouldn't the main opposition party have the capability to change the regime?"

"No response received regarding the proposal for unification through the national primary"
Democratic Party's political reform, unable to judge sincerity

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, is speaking at a campaign rally held in front of Saemgoeul Market in Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk, on the afternoon of the 28th. 2022.2.28 [Joint Coverage] [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 28th, Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, dismissed the possibility of meeting with Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, regarding unification.

After visiting Saemgoeul Market in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, Ahn told reporters, "The size of authority and the size of responsibility are proportional," adding, "If you are the main opposition party, shouldn’t you have the capability to bring about a regime change?"

Ahn emphasized that he had not received any response for a week after proposing unification on February 13. He explained, "On the 20th, I said it was physically impossible to proceed any further. Then a week passed, and suddenly they said they had a proposal. I thought I should listen, so Head Lee Tae-gyu went to hear it."

When asked if the People Power Party had proposed forming a joint transition committee with shared personnel authority and if he had been informed, he said, "I have not heard any details nor requested anything. What I requested was, as I told the public, to unify through a public primary, and I have not received any answer to that until this moment."

Regarding the question of whether the candidate should meet for unification negotiations since no one in the People’s Party has full authority, Ahn replied, "I am making decisions while discussing with many people who support me."

On the Democratic Party adopting political reform as a party agenda, he said, "I cannot judge the sincerity of passing it so hastily about ten days before the election," adding, "Regardless of the election outcome, I hope the majority party properly implements it after the election."