Democratic Party: "We Will Create a National Unity Parliament for a Multi-Party System"... Strategic Move Ahead of Presidential Election

Love Calls to Opposition Candidates Including Ahn and Shim
Introduction of Prime Minister Recommendation by Bipartisan Agreement

Lee: "Let's Cooperate with All Political Forces Except Yoon"

People Power Party: "Democratic Party Must Take Responsibility for Ignoring Opposition and Reckless Actions"
Shim and Justice Party: "Must Also Reach Agreement with Yoon and People Power Party," Doubts on Sincerity

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee, Hyun-joo Lee, Young-won Kim] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, launched a ‘multi-party system’ gambit 13 days ahead of the 20th presidential election. He announced a ‘National Unity Political Reform Plan’ centered on forming a National Unity National Assembly and government, decentralization, and cooperation, aiming to bring together opposition candidates such as Ahn Cheol-soo, Sim Sang-jung, and Kim Dong-yeon. Leader Song appealed for participation, saying, "I urge everyone to come together to find better reform plans and better ways to guarantee implementation, and to unite our efforts to realize them."

At a press conference held on the 24th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Leader Song explained, "We will recommend the Prime Minister through bipartisan consultation and institutionalize the Prime Minister’s personnel proposal procedure by law," adding, "We will form a national cabinet with the best figures beyond political camps and reform the government from the Blue House government to a Cabinet government."

He continued, "If candidate Lee takes office, the transition committee will form a bipartisan policy cooperation committee among the ruling and opposition parties to agree on a basic national policy plan centered on common presidential pledges and have it approved by the National Assembly. Regarding foreign affairs and security, a bipartisan National Security Council will be formed to institutionalize the participation of party leaders," emphasizing, "Immediately after the new government’s launch, the president, National Assembly, and social and economic actors will jointly form a social grand compromise committee to overcome the three major polarizations?jobs, generations, and regions?and establish a 10-year roadmap."

He promised to create a National Unity National Assembly by implementing a practical multi-party system. Leader Song stressed, "In the National Assembly elections, we will create an electoral system that reflects diverse public opinions across generations, genders, classes, and regions by significantly strengthening proportional representation through a mixed-member proportional representation system that prevents satellite parties and regional proportional representation, and for local elections, a multi-member district system with three or more members."

The constitutional amendment for national unity promoted by the Democratic Party focuses on strengthening basic livelihood rights and local autonomy, and democratizing the power structure. It aims to improve the presidential system by introducing a four-year renewable presidential term and a runoff election system, institutionalizing cooperation between the president and the National Assembly. In particular, it plans to introduce a National Assembly recommendation system for the Prime Minister and transfer the Board of Audit and Inspection under the National Assembly. Leader Song raised his voice, saying, "We will establish a special political reform committee for national unity and push for electoral reform within six months and a constitutional amendment within one year after the new government takes office."

However, it seems difficult for the Democratic Party to avoid criticism that this is a political maneuver to block candidate Yoon Seok-youl’s presidential victory, as the plan was unveiled suddenly ahead of the election. On the same day, candidate Lee appeared on BBS radio and said, "Excluding People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl, let’s find ways for all political forces genuinely aiming to improve the lives of the people to cooperate within possible limits," adding, "Whether or not we formed alliances during the election, once our election is over (if I am elected), I will share roles with cooperative factions as a president representing everyone."

Leader Song also drew a line, saying, "I have consistently advocated for a presidential runoff election system, and now that I am party leader, I am able to announce this." He further requested agreement, stating, "I believe Ahn candidate’s new politics, Sim candidate’s progressive politics, and Kim Dong-yeon’s new wave are all heading in the same direction."

The People Power Party issued a statement the same day, criticizing, "The Democratic Party is none other than the one that has carried out divisive and hypocritical factional politics, ignored the opposition, and engaged in winner-takes-all politics that ran rampant," and condemned, "The Democratic Party must take full responsibility for plunging the lives of the people into hardship."

Regarding questions about the mixed-member proportional representation system, candidate Sim Sang-jung said, "I have consistently advocated for this, and the Democratic Party has talked about it every election for the past 15 years. The problem is that they have not implemented it so far. Even now, they should actively seek agreement with the People Power Party, the main opposition."

Yeo Young-guk, leader of the Justice Party, also wrote on his social media, "I hope the Justice Party’s promise note, which the Democratic Party has brought up again, will not bounce this time," and added, "Candidate Lee’s call to unite for political reform excluding candidate Yoon feels more like a last-minute election strategy than genuine political reform," urging sincere political reform.

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