People's Party District Chairman: "Humiliating to Merge with People Power Party... Must Secure Nomination Ratio"

Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, is walking while talking with an official to attend the secretariat meeting held at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 15th. A document that appears to be related to the merger discussions between the People Power Party and the People Party is held in the official's hand.

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The National Committee Chairpersons and Party District Chairpersons of the People’s Party expressed strong opposition on the 17th to the merger with the People Power Party. They demanded guaranteed nominations, joint chairperson appointments, and a full party member vote from Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party leader and head of the Presidential Transition Committee.

Some National Committee Chairpersons and Party District Chairpersons of the People’s Party held a press conference near the Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, declaring their opposition to the merger with the People Power Party as “humiliating.”

They stated, “Are you going to abandon the passionate party members who have devoted themselves wholeheartedly over the past 10 years and enter the giant party, the People Power Party, with just a few close aides?” and “Do you really believe you can become the People Power Party’s presidential candidate in four years by abandoning us?”

Regarding the policy of 100% citizen primaries for People Power Party candidates, they demanded securing a nomination quota of 2.7 to 4%. They argued that while People Power Party candidates have already campaigned, People’s Party candidates have not, questioning, “What use is such a citizen primary?”

They also opposed appointing regional committee chairpersons who are not running in the upcoming local elections as standing vice-chairpersons of the regional committees. They said, “There are only a few People’s Party regional chairpersons not running in the local elections. If you cannot even protect this small number and instead demote them to vice-chairpersons, wouldn’t that be noticed by Leader Ahn?”

Additionally, they demanded a party-wide convention or a full party member vote regarding the merger. They warned, “Do not make a secretive and sudden merger declaration based on the Supreme Council’s resolution as stipulated in the proviso,” and added, “We will also engage in legal battles.”

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