Bareunmiraedang Agrees to Merge with Daean Shindang... Strategy to Retain Negotiation Group Status

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The Bareunmirae Party and the Alternative New Party have virtually agreed on a 'party-to-party merger' and are expected to make an official merger announcement early next week. The 'deadline' for the merger was set considering the national subsidy payment date on the 15th and the time required for practical work. Through this merger, the Bareunmirae Party is expected to regain its status as a parliamentary negotiation group.

A Bareunmirae Party official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 6th, "The merger with the Alternative New Party will likely take place around the 12th." The Bareunmirae Party has formed an internal Merger Promotion Committee (MPC), with Representative Park Joo-sun expected to serve as the MPC chairperson. Regarding this, Choi Kyung-hwan, leader of the Alternative New Party, also stated at the Supreme Council and National Assembly members joint meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the same day, "The Alternative New Party hopes that the three-party merger declaration will happen as soon as today or tomorrow," and added, "Let's finalize the merger task force and start negotiations among the three parties."

Initially, Representative Sohn Hak-kyu planned to first merge with the Future Generation and then with the Honam-based parties. However, as the rush of defections among party members and pressure to resign from the leadership intensified, he decided to bring out the 'merger card' early and take a direct approach. After the Supreme Council meeting on the 5th, Sohn told reporters, "We will accelerate the merger with the Alternative New Party and the Democratic Peace Party and expect visible results soon," adding, "Once the overall merger with the Future Generation is completed, my role will be over."

The Bareunmirae Party's number of seats has decreased to 18 due to the defections of Representatives Lee Chan-yeol and Kim Kwan-young. Considering additional defections by Representatives Kim Sung-sik and Kwon Eun-hee, the total would be 16 seats. It has been confirmed that district representatives such as Park Joo-sun and Joo Seung-yong have no intention of defecting. Representative Park said, "I have no intention of defecting. I will do whatever it takes to properly establish a centrist, pragmatic, and livelihood-focused party as promised to the people," adding, "I have no irresponsible desire to leave." Representative Joo also said, "I have never said I would defect," and "Defection is the last card a politician chooses."

If the Bareunmirae Party restores its status as a negotiation group, it will receive a total of 11.32 billion won before the general election, including 2.26 billion won in regular subsidies and 9.06 billion won in election subsidies. Currently, the Alternative New Party and the Democratic Peace Party hold 7 and 4 seats respectively. If the Bareunmirae Party merges with them, it can regain its status as a parliamentary negotiation group.

According to the National Election Commission, regular subsidies to political parties are scheduled to be paid on the 15th, and election subsidies at the end of March. The Political Funds Act stipulates that 50% of the total subsidies are distributed equally to negotiation group parties, 5% of the total to parties with 5 to less than 20 seats, and 2% of the total to parties with no seats or fewer than 5 seats. The remaining 50% is distributed 50% based on the number of seats and 50% based on the vote share in the last general election.

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