People Power Party Convention Schedule Confirmed... "Preliminary Primary to Reflect 50% Public Opinion Polls"

Only 5 Candidates Advance to Final Round Through Cutoff for Party Leader Election

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party has finalized the schedule for the party convention to elect the party leader and supreme council members. The preliminary primary will be conducted with a ratio of 50% party member electorate and 50% public opinion polls, reflecting the increased public interest.

The Central Election Commission of the People Power Party held its second meeting on the 18th and finalized the schedule and method for the preliminary primary of the party leader election.

Hwang Woo-yeo, the chairman of the Election Commission, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "Since the main election is likely to be held without amendments to the party constitution and regulations, there was a discussion hoping that public sentiment would be reflected even before the cutoff," adding, "There was a proposal to reflect 100% public opinion polls, so a compromise plan was applied." He also stated, "The main election will maintain the ratio of 70% party member electorate and 30% public opinion polls."

Within the party, there were opinions that the weight of public opinion polls should be increased even in the main election. However, counterarguments emphasized that since it is the election of the party leader, the voices of party members should be reflected, and that amendments to the party constitution are necessary.

In this party leader election, where about ten candidates are expected to run, the preliminary primary will narrow down the candidates to five.

The preliminary primary will be conducted over two days, from the 26th to the 27th, through public opinion polls, and the results will be announced on the afternoon of the 27th. Candidates who pass the cutoff will start the first joint speech meeting in Honam on the 30th and then hold speech meetings nationwide.

Broadcast debates attended by the candidates will be held on the 31st and the 8th of next month, and the electorate voting and general public opinion polls will be conducted over two days starting from the 9th of next month.

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