Aiming to Win Over Centrist Voters for the Presidency
Must Overcome Criticism of the 'One-Pole System'
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has launched a bid for re-election as party leader. Lee appears to be focusing on courting the centrist voters for the presidential race by emphasizing policies and a party centered on its members, rather than calling for judgment on the current administration and ruling party.
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is heading back to his seat after voting on the motion to end the unlimited debate on the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act' at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 10th, Lee held a press conference announcing his candidacy for party leader at the party member zone of the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "More Democratic Party members should unite more firmly with greater pride and passion to win bigger in the next local elections and, riding that momentum, we must win the next presidential election." He added, "I will expand the path for party members to be the true owners of the party, so they are not alienated from party activities and actively participate in the party’s decisions and activities with pride and responsibility."
Lee prioritized policies and livelihood issues over criticism of the administration or ruling party. He said, "I can say without a doubt that nothing is more important than the issue of making a living. 'Moksanimism' should be the only ideology," adding, "The recovery and sustainable growth of the economy is the core of livelihood and Moksanimism." He continued, "the state must guarantee the basic lives of the people in areas such as income, housing, finance, healthcare, education, energy, and telecommunications, and maintain a certain level of consumption to reduce anxiety about the future of its members," he said.
Gwon Hyuk-ki, the general team leader of Lee’s campaign, told reporters the day before, "We focused on reestablishing a national vision that disappeared two years after the launch of the Yoon administration and delivering a message of hope to the people," adding, "Unlike the political offensives of the People Power Party candidates in the party leadership race, we present differentiated and future-oriented alternatives."
The upcoming Democratic Party leadership election is expected to be a three-way race. Following former lawmaker Kim Du-kwan’s announcement of his candidacy the day before, Kim Ji-su, head of the Korea Peninsula Future Economy Forum, also declared her challenge for the party leader position on the same day. In a phone interview with Asia Economy, Kim said, "By running for party leader, I will emphasize that the Democratic Party needs to get closer to the future generation," adding, "The Democratic Party needs to change to prepare for the future, but it has not been able to do so."
Lee is expected to secure as many votes as possible in the leadership election to gain momentum for his presidential bid. However, as it is unusual for a presidential hopeful to seek re-election as party leader, criticism of the 'Lee Jae-myung one-man regime' is also a burden. Former lawmaker Kim said the day before, "Currently, in the Democratic Party, discussion is out of the question, and a ghost of totalitarianism is wandering, where everyone charges in a single file under one person’s orders," adding, "If we do not remove, disinfect, and treat this contamination, the collapse of the Democratic Party will be as clear as seeing lightning in a pitch-black night."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
