Ahn Cheol-soo: "Opposition Proposes 'Joint General Election Evaluation Meeting'... Must Engage in Innovation Competition"

"Increase Public Trust in the Entire Opposition"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, stated on the 4th, “There is an urgent sense that if the opposition does not innovate, it will be difficult to stop the ruling party’s reckless power retention and arbitrary actions,” and proposed “a joint general election evaluation meeting for the opposition.”

At the first plenary meeting of the Innovation Preparation Committee and the general election evaluation meeting held that afternoon, Ahn said, “While each pursues its own politics, I propose that through a joint general election evaluation meeting, we share the era’s demands and innovation tasks given to the opposition and engage in innovation competition,” adding, “Through this, we must raise the public’s trust in the entire opposition.”

He emphasized, “The results of this general election demand a sincere time of reflection for the entire opposition,” and “Although we confirmed the meaningfulness of our party, it raised fundamental concerns about new paths and expansion for the entire opposition.”

He continued, “It is unreasonable to limit the ruling party’s victory factors only to populist policies such as COVID-19 and nationwide disaster relief payments,” adding, “Because the previous incompetence and errors of the current administration, as well as the Cho Kuk incident and allegations of power-related corruption, were significant factors for judging the administration that cannot be overlooked.”

Ahn said, “Many people say this election was not a victory for the ruling party but a defeat for the opposition. I believe there is a path forward for the opposition in such critiques and analyses,” and pointed out, “Unfortunately, even after the election defeat, voices of self-reflection and innovation are not properly heard within the opposition.”

Ahn stated, “Simple past discussions of unification cannot solve the problems nor expand the opposition’s overall share,” and “The confrontation between progressives and conservatives only tightens the shackles binding us even more.”

He added, “The entire opposition must fundamentally change through innovation competition,” and “Only when the innovatively transformed opposition leads the flow of the times and the hearts of the people will the public grant opportunities. Now is the time to abandon everything and start anew from a blank slate with determination.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.