April Deadline, Both Parties Making Reasonable Progress
Possibility of Repeating Last Year's Failed Merger
Challenges Remain in Party Leadership Formation After Candidate Selection
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, has expressed his intention to return to his party after completing his duties as chairman, introducing a new variable in the merger process between the two parties. Although the leaders of both parties agreed on a 'physical merger' within this month, there is a high possibility of disagreements arising in the practical merger process, such as leadership composition and distribution of nomination rights.
On the 30th of last month, at a press conference held at the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Seoul, Chairman Ahn drew a line by saying, "As the chairman of the transition committee, I thought that drawing a blueprint and a good direction for the next government and then not directly participating in the cabinet would rather reduce the burden on the president-elect." Regarding his future plans, he said, "I believe there is much I can contribute to broadening the party's support base and stabilizing the administration."
This has led to speculation that Chairman Ahn intends to focus on challenging for party leadership to prepare for the next presidential election. It is believed that he has the next party convention in mind, which will take place after the current term of Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, ends in about a year. In fact, at the press conference, Chairman Ahn expressed interest in the party's internal situation by stating, "Currently, public sentiment shows great disappointment with both parties. That is an objective fact, and efforts to dispel that are absolutely necessary."
As Chairman Ahn turns his attention to the party, the merger being pursued by the two parties is also likely to face difficulties. Previously, during the unification process for the April 7th Seoul mayoral by-election last year, the two parties promised to merge and went through working-level consultations, but after a protracted tug-of-war, the merger was ultimately aborted.
Even if a physical merger is achieved within this month, there are forecasts that tensions may arise over leadership composition and the allocation of party district chairpersons between the two parties. A People Power Party official stated, "During the previous merger process, the People Party side requested appointments of party district chairpersons. If they demand shares again this time, merger negotiations will not be easy."
In response, Leader Lee has moved to check this by stating that Chairman Ahn will not be able to participate in merger and local election preparations until May 9, when his transition committee duties end and he returns. On the 30th of last month, on BBS Radio, Leader Lee said, "I think he can only join after May 9 (the end date of transition committee activities), and some schedule adjustments may be necessary in that situation. That could be a burden on the transition committee side," and "Chairman Ahn has had little connection with the People Power Party, that is, the Saenuri Party faction." Leader Lee has also set April 17, when the Public Official Candidate Competency Test (PPAT) is held, as the merger deadline.
Meanwhile, the '3+3 Working-Level Consultative Group' of the two parties has continued negotiations since the negotiation team was formed on the 29th of last month. They are reportedly discussing agenda items such as local election nominations, succession of party staff employment, and debt succession.
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