Strong Criticism of Yoon's Arrest Warrant and Treason Charge Withdrawal
Avoids Mentioning Lawmakers Attending Anti-Impeachment Rally
Dilemma Between Hardline Supporters and Moderates
The People Power Party (PPP) appears to be caught in a dilemma over its relationship with President Yoon Suk-yeol. The PPP leadership has strongly criticized the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCIU)'s attempt to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon, as well as the Democratic Party's withdrawal of the charge of treason as grounds for impeachment. On the other hand, the party has drawn a line by labeling the lawmakers who attended the anti-impeachment rally as acting 'individually.' In the absence of a unifying figure within the party, this stance is interpreted as an effort to appeal to both the hardline supporters and the moderate base, keeping in mind the possibility of an early presidential election.
Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party (right), and Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, are talking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 6th, Kwon Young-se, the PPP Emergency Response Committee Chairman, stated at a meeting of the Emergency Response Committee held at the National Assembly, "Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, and former lawmaker Cho Kuk have also undergone investigations without detention," adding, "We clearly state that investigations into the president, who is only suspended from duty, must proceed under the general principles of the Criminal Procedure Act through voluntary investigation methods." Regarding the recent withdrawal of the treason charge by HOCIU and the Democratic Party, he criticized, "We urge the Democratic Party to immediately stop politically exploiting the current situation to produce the results they desire according to their party leader's judicial risk timetable." Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong also pointed out, "HOCIU has never executed an arrest or detention warrant in the past four years," questioning, "Is it even conceivable for such an agency to execute an illegal arrest warrant for the president?"
However, the PPP leadership is cautious about creating the perception that the entire party is defending President Yoon. Regarding the attendance of about 30 party lawmakers at the anti-impeachment rally held near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the PPP stated that it was an 'individual action' by the lawmakers and unrelated to the party's official stance. Senior spokesperson Shin Dong-wook explained to reporters after the meeting, "The leadership did not give any instructions," adding, "They went voluntarily, and the leadership has not received any reports on the specific activities they engaged in."
Within the ruling camp, there is an interpretation that the PPP leadership finds it burdensome to choose between the hardline supporters and the moderates. This is because, in the absence of a strong unifying figure like former leader Han Dong-hoon, it is difficult to ignore the hardline base. Moreover, since the attempt to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon, the conservative forces have been rallying mainly around the hardline supporters. President Yoon's approval rating has recovered to the 30% range this month, and the PPP's support rate has also shifted to an upward trend. A PPP official said, "The leadership is likely doing this because they need to consolidate their support base to prepare for an early presidential election."
Some within the party express concerns that this atmosphere will make it difficult to expand the party's outreach through reform. PPP lawmaker Kim Jae-seop said on SBS Radio that "those who loosely supported the PPP are likely to leave," adding, "Most moderates are moving over to the Democratic Party. Are they perceiving the recovery of support from those who have supported the PPP as a conservative victory?" Former PPP Supreme Council member Kim Jong-hyuk also said on KBS Radio, "If they continue to shield such a president, they will inevitably face public backlash," emphasizing, "We must critically and dispassionately criticize the president's mistakes."
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