"It Is Difficult for the People Power Party to Unite...
A Party That Changes Rapidly"
Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, predicted that if the early presidential election phase begins, prominent next presidential candidates within the ruling party such as Han Dong-hoon, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Yoo Seung-min would "leave the party in order of impatience."
On the 16th, during CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Lee was asked about the possibility of a split among the minority factions within the ruling party, including former leader Han Dong-hoon, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. He responded, "Presidential elections are held once every five years, which causes impatience and sudden actions among people," adding, "For those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this is likely their last chance, so they have no choice but to act."
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was arrested by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency on charges of leading an insurrection, is leaving the agency in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 15th after completing his investigation and is being transferred to Seoul Detention Center. Photo by Yonhap News
He added, "'They say it's cold outside the party,' but in this phase, it won't be warm even inside the party," elaborating, "Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min probably found it difficult to become a presidential candidate within the party, but ironically, he was able to become a candidate because he went outside." However, he noted, "The capability to become independent needs to be considered," pointing out, "Whether they have the capacity to leave the party and gather 5,000 people to establish a new party is a separate issue."
In 2016, when former President Park Geun-hye was impeached, the Saenuri Party experienced a split as many lawmakers who supported the impeachment joined the Bareun Party, which was founded around Kim Moo-sung and Yoo Seung-min. Yoo ran as the Bareun Party's presidential candidate in the 2017 election.
Lee predicted that it would be difficult for the People Power Party to move toward unity in the future. He explained, "It seems hard to unite," adding, "The People Power Party is a party that changes quickly. People who waved Taegeukgi flags and cried over the unfair impeachment of former President Park later made President Yoon and former leader Han Dong-hoon their candidates." He continued, "It doesn't matter what stance the People Power Party takes toward President Yoon now," and said, "A new figure who criticizes President Yoon will appear again."
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