'Anyun Alliance' Officially Proclaims Leadership in the Capital Region
Yoon Government Must Succeed for Ahn Cheol-soo's Future
Yeouido Research Institute's Three Major Reform Pledges
[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Youngwon Kim] On the 9th, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, officially declared his candidacy for the party leadership election scheduled for March 8, promoting the 'Capital Region Representative Theory.'
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the same day, Ahn said, "Today, I take on a bold challenge, trusting the public sentiment and party sentiment," adding, "I am running not to be a leader who relies on President Yoon Seok-yeol's power, but to be a leader who supports President Yoon Seok-yeol."
Ahn emphasized that he represents a 'turning point' that will change the political flow for the ruling party's victory in the general election. He said, "In December 2020, when our party was engulfed in defeatism, I threw myself into changing the flow by declaring my candidacy for the Seoul mayoral election. After winning the by-elections, hope for regime change began to appear. That was the turning point that changed the flow," adding, "I will be such a turning point in this general election as well." He also explained that he is taking on a bold challenge to complete regime change through a landslide victory in the general election.
He evaluated himself as the best candidate for the next party leader, knowing well the public sentiment in the capital region, the biggest battleground of the general election that will be the foundation for the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Ahn said, "As seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, a country with a leader who leads from the front lines, not just giving orders from the rear, wins," and added, "The Democratic Party has already realized that the capital region is the front line for next year's general election and has finished preparing. We must also confront them head-on with the capital region leadership." He continued, "I am a three-term lawmaker based in Yeongnam but representing the capital region," and "I understand the hearts of moderates and swing voters better than anyone else. I understand the hearts of the 2030 generation better than anyone else."
Ahn referred to himself as President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'co-signer' and 'shared destiny,' saying, "If President Yoon fails, Ahn Cheol-soo's political future will not exist." He emphasized, "A combination of a president with a legal background and a party leader with a science and technology background is unprecedented in the world, especially at this moment when the U.S. and China are engaged in a science and technology hegemony war," and added, "It will be a differentiated choice that secures the most certain advantage that the Democratic Party cannot possibly catch up with."
Ahn also promised to pursue three major reforms if he becomes party leader. At a meeting with reporters after the press conference, he said, "First, I want to become a competent policy party," adding, "I will make the Yeouido Research Institute, which matches its former reputation, into a capable institution." He continued, "The third is education. We need a training center and plan to hold free regular political lectures for citizens."
At Ahn's candidacy press conference that day, Yoon Sang-hyun, a fellow People Power Party lawmaker competing for party leadership, sent a congratulatory message that drew attention. Yoon said, "Our People Power Party owes a great debt of gratitude to Ahn for achieving regime change," adding, "This party leadership election is crucial as it will determine the success of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by leading the next general election to victory, so I agree with the idea that 'the leader must be someone who can expand the party's outreach in the capital region.'"
In response, Ahn said, "The fact that the two of us empathize with each other itself means that this general election is a battle in the capital region," adding, "We agreed that it is right for a commander to lead from the front line in the capital region, and that is why we exchanged congratulatory messages."
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