Three Key Principles Proposed to Normalize Party-Government Relations
"We Will Ask Yoon to Leave the Party as Soon as Possible"
Kim Yongtae, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party, announced on May 15 that he would soon meet with former President Yoon Sukyeol to request that he leave the party. He also stated that if former President Yoon does not make a decision, the party will consider taking separate measures at the party level.
At a press briefing held at the National Assembly that day, Chairman Kim said, "I will visit the President as soon as possible and convey my message," and added, "I ask him to make a decision for the sake of the party and victory in the presidential election."
Chairman Kim explained, "It is time for the People Power Party to turn the party's ongoing crises into energy for fundamental reform and innovation of the conservative party," and added, "While the upcoming battle is the presidential election, the essence of the fight is a fundamental transformation of the conservative party."
When asked whether presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo had dissuaded the President from leaving the party, he reiterated, "I believe the President will make a rational decision," and emphasized again, "I respectfully recommend that the President leave the party."
He also made it clear that if former President Yoon does not make a decision even after the recommendation to leave, the party will initiate separate measures. Chairman Kim said, "Regardless of whether (former President Yoon) accepts it, we will consider other procedures," and added, "We are reviewing institutionalization in the party constitution and regulations, both to respect the spirit of the Constitution and to ensure that such incidents do not happen again."
For example, he explained that the party could institutionalize a measure to restrict party membership for about three years for members who receive a guilty verdict or a remand for retrial with a guilty implication from the Supreme Court, or who are found to have violated the Constitution by the Constitutional Court.
In addition, he stated the party's intention to promote the institutionalization of party democracy to normalize the relationship between the ruling party and the President. The aim is to block the President's intervention in party affairs and to enhance the ruling party's cooperation with state administration.
Specifically, the plan is to incorporate into the party constitution and regulations three key principles governing the relationship between the party and the President: party-government cooperation, separation of party and President, and prohibition of personalizing the party. The 'party-government cooperation' principle refers to establishing a close cooperative relationship between the party and the President for smooth state administration, going beyond vertical or horizontal relations. The 'separation of party and President' principle prohibits the President from intervening in major party affairs such as internal elections, nominations, and party positions. The 'prohibition of personalizing the party' principle means that the party will not tolerate the formation of pro-President or anti-President factions within the party, ensuring internal democracy and the autonomy of lawmakers.
He also expressed his intention to form an alliance with former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon and former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo. Chairman Kim said, "We have previously stated our willingness to form a broad alliance for victory in the presidential election," and added, "We will unite with those who left the party after being labeled as traitors by the party's decisions, those with different roots but shared values, and even those who have reflected on their past mistakes."
Regarding Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, who is considered a potential candidate for unification, he said, "Candidate Lee was expelled from the party due to a wrong decision by the party," and added, "We will either meet with candidate Lee as soon as possible or arrange an occasion to offer a formal apology for the party's past mistakes."
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