Ahn Cheol-soo: "People Power Party, Please Open the Primary Platform... Confident in an Inspiring Unification"

"This Seoul By-election, a Crucial Election Determining the Fate of the Republic of Korea"

Ahn Cheol-soo, Leader of the People Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, has called for the People Power Party’s primary platform to be opened to the entire opposition bloc to unify the opposition candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election.

On the 19th, Ahn held a press conference regarding the opposition unification and stated, “Let us unconditionally start practical discussions, including the option of managing an open primary platform under the responsibility of the People Power Party, to select the most competitive unified opposition candidate.”

Ahn said, “Since declaring my candidacy for Seoul mayor, I have had somewhat difficult days. I feel the necessity of unifying opposition candidates more than anyone else, but it was difficult to accept the sudden 'party membership demand' from the main opposition party, and I had to be cautious not to appear as if I was rejecting unification. Asking the leader of a political party to leave their party and join ours right before the election is an unreasonable request from the start. I understand the People Power Party’s intention to fulfill its role as the main opposition party, but a unilateral demand that does not consider the diverse opposition supporters that realistically exist is not reasonable.”

Instead, he demanded that the People Power Party’s primary platform be opened to the entire opposition bloc. Ahn emphasized, “I ask the main opposition party to take the lead and become the game maker for the opposition’s victory. I am willing to participate.” This means that all opposition candidates, including independents, should be able to participate.

He said, “Let all candidates cleanly accept the results of practical discussions and the primary in front of the people, aim for a positive election focused on vision and policy competition, and pledge to the public that whoever is selected as the unified candidate will be supported wholeheartedly for their victory. I can clearly promise this to the people here. Ahn Cheol-soo will conduct a positive election, not a negative one, and accept the results.”

Ahn emphasized the opposition’s victory through unification. He said, “I have never once asked for unification for my own sake. Even if I am not chosen, I have repeatedly stated that I will help the unified candidate win. In my mind, there is only one goal: the opposition’s victory through unification and establishing a foothold for regime change.”

He continued, “This Seoul mayoral by-election is not an election that can be won or lost casually. It is a critical election on which the fate of the Republic of Korea depends. I am putting everything I have into this. The most important thing in the unification process is to ensure that various opposition supporters, who may have different opinions, do not defect and can support the unified candidate. Everyone will agree that even if some supporters defect, the candidate can be unified but will lose the election. Therefore, I am confident that a beautiful and moving unification will be achieved.”

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