Han Deoksoo and Lee Nakyon Meet... Agreement on Constitutional Amendment Alliance
Lee Nakyon to Han Deoksoo: "Three Key Words in Full Agreement"
However, on Candidacy: "Still Preparing"
Former Prime Minister Han Deoksoo said on the 6th regarding the conflict over unification with People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moonsu, "Our efforts to create a new Republic of Korea through solidarity achieved by constitutional amendment will surely succeed."
After meeting with Lee Nakyon, senior advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, at a restaurant in Seoul on this day, Han told reporters, "I believe the unification issue will be resolved in a positive direction," expressing his view.
On the 6th, at Conference House Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo and former Prime Minister Lee Nakyon shook hands before their luncheon meeting. Photo by Yonhap News
Han emphasized, "This issue is not a problem for a specific political group alone," and added, "It is a matter of choice for our people?whether they will live comfortably in a normalized country, and whether we will strengthen the economy, livelihoods, diplomacy, and security, or not."
This is interpreted as an intention to build an 'anti-Lee Jaemyung big tent' to prevent the election of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung.
Regarding the deadline for unification, Han said, "I think setting a specific deadline now only makes the unification efforts more difficult."
It is known that Han and Senior Advisor Lee also discussed unification plans during their meeting.
Before the meeting, Senior Advisor Lee stated, "Former Prime Minister Han's three keywords?constitutional amendment, trade, and integration?are in complete agreement with me."
He added, "The proposal to operate a three-year transitional government for constitutional amendment and the launch of the Seventh Republic is in total agreement," and continued, "Based on this shared understanding, I hope we can discuss additional directions for moving forward."
Han said, "(Senior Advisor Lee) is a highly respected senior in politics, and as a former prime minister, I would like to receive a lot of advice and help from him."
However, regarding his own candidacy, Senior Advisor Lee said, "Although we discussed many things today, my position on running for president has not changed," and added, "I am continuing to prepare for my candidacy."
On the 6th, independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo and former Prime Minister Lee Nakyon are having a lunch meeting at Conference House Dalgaebi in Junggu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jiwon's claim that Han's spouse, Choi Ayoung, is "deeply immersed in shamanism," Han responded, "That is a blatant lie," and added, "We will file a legal complaint so that a judicial decision can be made on this matter."
Regarding reports about promoting a constitutional amendment toward a parliamentary cabinet system, Han said, "I have my own personal thoughts, and over the years, many National Assembly speakers and the Assembly have discussed constitutional amendments," but added, "I believe it is right to have a period of about one year to gather public opinion in depth."
He continued, "I judge that there is insufficient public consensus to introduce a parliamentary cabinet system," and explained, "I have prepared a constitutional amendment plan to maintain the presidential system, but to disperse presidential powers by introducing a decentralized presidential system in which the prime minister shares responsibility."
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