From Petition to Meeting with Lee Jae-myung and the Prime Minister... Lee Nak-yeon Cornered

Following former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon's declaration to form a new party, first-term Democratic Party lawmakers have circulated a joint petition expressing their opposition, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has met with former Prime Ministers Kim Boo-kyum and Chung Sye-kyun, leading to analyses that the Democratic Party is launching an 'isolation operation' against Lee Nak-yeon. In the third-party sphere, there are also criticisms that this resembles the 'first-term joint petition' that appeared during past ruling party leadership elections.

Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Cheol-hee criticized on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 18th, saying, "The actions of those circulating the joint petition are harsh. What else can it mean but 'if you don't like it, leave'?" He added, "After going that far, is there any reason for former leader Lee to retreat or turn back? When persuading, you have to create a space for them to return."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, after former leader Lee officially announced the formation of a new party for the new year, first-term Democratic Party lawmakers circulated a joint petition opposing it, and the pro-Lee Jae-myung (친명, Chin-myeong) off-parliamentary group 'The Democratic Party National Innovation Council' held a press conference condemning Lee's party formation. The largest parliamentary group within the Democratic Party, 'Better Future,' also expressed opposition.

However, there are criticisms that these actions only further isolate former leader Lee. The non-Lee Jae-myung (비명, Bi-myeong) reform faction 'Principles and Common Sense' (Kim Jong-min, Yoon Young-chan, Lee Won-wook, Cho Eung-chun) issued a statement that day saying, "Pressure through joint petitions is not a solution," and criticized, "Former leaders Song Young-gil, Choo Mi-ae, and former Minister Cho Kuk have also talked about forming new parties, but no one within the party has condemned or signed petitions against them like with former leader Lee's new party rumor. When one does it, it's a 'good' new party, but when another does, it's division?" Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung also said on KBS's 'Special 1 Radio Today,' "This could act as a trigger to push former leader Lee out. While signing petitions is possible, I don't think it works as a method of persuasion."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the third-party sphere, criticisms have also been raised that this resembles the joint petition by first-term lawmakers against former lawmaker Na Kyung-won during a past ruling party leadership election. Geum Tae-seop, co-leader of the third-party 'New Choice,' pointed out on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' "When Na Kyung-won tried to run in the last People Power Party leadership election, first-term lawmakers signed a petition, right? It's the same on both sides."

As former leader Lee's isolation within the party continues, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is accelerating Lee Nak-yeon's isolation by meeting sequentially with former prime ministers?excluding Lee Nak-yeon?on the 20th and 28th. Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "I somewhat agree with calling it an 'isolation operation.' Instead of responding to former leader Lee's criticisms, they consistently ignore him, and by meeting with figures who seem likely to side with Lee, they are blocking all paths."

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