Lee Sang-heon Opposes Democratic Party's Decision to Give Ulsan Buk-gu to Jinbo Party: "This Agreement Is a Secret Deal"

Democratic Party and Progressive Party candidate unification agreement deprived Ulsan Buk-gu district Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-heon of the opportunity to run in the general election, and on the 21st, he demanded a reconsideration of the negotiation.

On the same day, Lee defined the decision to unify Ulsan Buk-gu under the Progressive Party candidate during the local candidate alliance process as a 'secret deal' and called for a re-discussion.

He said, "The decision-making process of the Democratic Party, the Progressive Party, and the New Progressive Alliance must have been the result of complex negotiations, but I have serious doubts about whether a truly democratic and reformative approach was taken during this process," adding, "Discussions on the mixed-member proportional representation system for small parties have noble purposes, but the secret deal that contradicted the intent, such as local district demands, must be fundamentally reconsidered."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee stated, "Before such a decision was made, sufficient discussions and considerations with the parties involved should have taken place," and condemned, "This negotiation seems to have been conducted without consideration of the party's direction and values." He added, "Politics should exist as a democratic process for the livelihood and regional development," and promised, "I will act more faithfully to this principle with various options regarding future steps."

Lee also argued, "Regarding this matter, along with communication with the Democratic Party, I hope it becomes an opportunity for all of us to deeply consider the impact of political decisions on our society."

Earlier, the Democratic Party, Progressive Party, and New Progressive Alliance agreed through a memorandum for an electoral alliance that "the Ulsan Buk-gu electoral district will be unified under the Progressive Party candidate." During the agreement process, they announced a unification policy through public opinion polls in all regions except Gyeongbuk and Honam, but unilaterally conceded Ulsan Buk-gu to the Progressive Party candidate.