Justice Party demands apology for "damaging responsible politics" over Lee Jae-myung and Ahn Cheol-soo's local election candidacies

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] On the 6th, the Justice Party demanded an apology and explanation from former Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung and Presidential Transition Committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, who have decided to run in the by-elections, saying, "First, apologize and explain for damaging 'responsible politics.'"

Lee Dong-young, the Justice Party's chief spokesperson, stated in a briefing that "At the very least, political responsibility must be taken for promises made to the public, and if words have changed, responsible explanations and apologies should come first." He cited the case of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who resigned from his parliamentary seat during the last presidential primary, and said, "The Democratic Party should answer whether the 'cause of fault and responsibility' questioned of former leader Lee at that time does not apply to former leader Song Young-gil, who resigned from the National Assembly seat of Incheon Gyeyang and is running for Seoul mayor, and former governor Lee who is running in that constituency." When the by-election occurred in Jongno due to former leader Lee's resignation, the Democratic Party stated a no-candidacy position, saying "The cause of fault and responsibility lies with the Democratic Party."

The Justice Party also pointed out to Chairman Ahn, "Before the People Power Party questions the Democratic Party about the cause of fault and responsibility and talks about no-candidacy, it should first look at itself," and criticized, "If the same standard is not applied to Chairman Ahn's candidacy in Bundang-gap, this is a clear case of double standards." Lee Dong-young expressed concern that "The local elections, which should be a stage for political change through a multi-party system and the realization of grassroots democracy, may once again devolve into wasteful political strife and factional confrontation due to the by-election candidacies of the two major party presidential candidates just two months after the presidential election."

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