Leader of Uri Party, CBS Radio Interview
Lee Jun-seok Expected to Leave Party Around Mid-December
"Lee Jun-seok's Departure Almost Certain... No Place to Win Primary"
Jo Won-jin, leader of the Our Republican Party, commented on the meeting between former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and former Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in the previous day, saying, "It is obvious that former leader Lee is very anxious and agitated," and added, "So perhaps former Chairman Kim called him to calm him down."
Jo appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day and said, "If former leader Lee does not enter the National Assembly unconditionally, he will become a political ronin." He added, "Can't you see that he looks really anxious? Although he says many things, those words ultimately revolve around himself, showing a very anxious appearance," and said, "So from our perspective, he still seems politically immature."
Jo claimed that there is a difference in the political schedule calculations between former Chairman Kim and former leader Lee. Jo said, "Former leader Lee has already decided to leave by the end of December, and since the regular National Assembly budget (bill) is processed on December 12, it would be between the 12th and 20th after that," and added, "Former Chairman Kim thinks it is better to act quickly in November, so their time schedules differ by about a month."
Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is visiting the office of former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 1st to meet him. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jo said, "I believe former leader Lee's schedule is all set," and added, "It seems he intends to shake the People Power Party until it is shaken," but noted, "However, when the People Power Party threw out the card of Innovation Committee Chairman In Yo-han, former leader Lee got a bit confused."
He continued, "With issues like personnel reshuffling, then running in a difficult constituency in the Yeongnam region, and then pardons being casually mentioned, things are going differently from their own schedule, so former leader Lee will think about it in a complicated way," and said, "Since former Chairman Kim knows about this complexity, he probably advised, 'If you get more entangled, the foundation will be fully visible, so come out quickly.'"
He then predicted that former leader Lee would leave the party. Jo said, "It is almost certain. Even if he stays, there is no place where he can win if a primary is held," and explained, "The party members of the People Power Party have already turned away. Even the party members in Nowon District are very hostile toward former leader Lee Jun-seok."
Jo added, "For former leader Lee to become a member of the National Assembly, he will ultimately go his own way," and said, "There is a possibility that he will either participate in a new party and run through proportional representation, or not participate in the new party, with the new party led by former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and an independent coalition led by Lee Jun-seok, using a diversionary tactic."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
