Reform New Party's First Meeting... "Will Not Create Satellite Party for Proportional Representation" (Summary)

Spokesperson Lee Gi-in, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
Forms Working Negotiation Team to Establish Party Constitution and Rules

The Reform New Party, formed by the union of four third-party forces, held its first meeting on the 11th and decided not to create a satellite party for proportional representation candidate selection.

Reform New Party co-leaders Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jun-seok, along with lawmakers Kim Jong-min and Lee Won-wook, and former lawmakers Geum Tae-seop and Kim Yong-nam, gathered for a dinner meeting at a traditional Korean restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the meeting, the Reform New Party decided not to establish a satellite party for proportional representation. This appears to be an effort to differentiate themselves from the two major parties, which have effectively formalized the creation of satellite parties in accordance with the semi-linked proportional representation system.

Lawmaker Lee Won-wook told reporters during the dinner, "Satellite parties are fake parties," and criticized them as "symbols of the two major parties' political tricks."

He added, "Many citizens have expressed mixed feelings of expectation and concern about the Reform New Party," and said, "We shared opinions on how to alleviate concerns and further raise expectations."

The spokesperson for the Reform New Party will be Lee Ki-in, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly from the People Power Party. Lee previously served as the Reform New Party's supreme council member and chief spokesperson.

The party's platform, basic policies, party constitution and regulations, and personnel appointments will be discussed by a working negotiation team composed of Kim Cheol-geun, secretary-general of the Reform New Party, and Lee Hoon, secretary-general of the New Future Party.

Discussions on the leadership structure, including the composition of the supreme council, have not yet been finalized. Previously, they agreed to have a collective leadership system with a supreme council, where each of the four factions forming the Reform New Party would recommend one supreme council member.

Lawmaker Lee said, "Tomorrow (the 12th), all supreme council members will be appointed at each unit," and added, "The first official supreme council meeting will be held on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building."