By Jun Ji-hye
Ahn Cheol-soo was one of the biggest variables in the presidential election and what steps he will take following the poll is attracting keen attention. The software mogul-turned-politician's next step is expected to emerge as one of the major factors determining the political landscape of the post-election period.
Although Ahn failed to help Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party beat Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, he proved his influence during the election.
Political watchers agree that Ahn will continue to command a stronger presence in the political scene.
Analysts mostly say that Park's election will not strike a blow to Ahn. He will hardly be blamed for the opposition's defeat. Rather, there are greater possibilities that more people will blame Moon and the incompetence of the DUP.
Myongji University politics professor Shin Yul said, "With Park's victory, many will hold Roh Moo-hyun factions responsible for the defeat, and at the same time those factions will seek to keep a firmer grip within the DUP and control it."
The professor thinks this will drive anti-Roh figures out of the party, which provides a big opportunity for Ahn to do something with them.
Polinews chairman Kim Neung-gu echoed the view saying, "In this case, the opposition will regard him as an alternative figure to take part in a reshuffle of the liberal side."
He went on to say, "There will be many people among the opposition who think it is essential to restructure political circles in order to overcome Moon's limitations and the DUP. These people will join with Ahn and create a new political party."
Speculation about Ahn's plan to establish a new party arose even before the election. Days before the vote, he disclosed his plan to leave for the U.S. following the polling day.
According to Yoo Min-young, a spokesman for Ahn, the former presidential candidate will stay there for one or two months "to straighten up his thoughts while taking a rest."
Heo Young, one of his secretaries, added, "He will draw up plans for new politics." His former campaign aides also quoted Ahn as saying, "Details on new politics need to be established."
The Polinews head said, "Ahn probably felt the limitations as an independent politician. One of the reasons behind his failure to complete a beautiful alliance with Moon was he was a novice in politics. He must have sensed the need for a party."
Chung Goon-gi, a professor at the Journalism and Media Department at Kyonggi University, expects Ahn's party to be centrist. "He will attempt to win support from middle-of-the-roaders and will attract talent from among those who loathe existing politics," he said.
Further support for this speculation was Ahn's meeting with Sohn Hak-kyu, a DUP senior advisor, three days after his withdrawal from the presidential race. After a private meeting between them, a DUP official quoted Sohn as saying, "Creating new politics is as important as establishing a new liberal government."
Experts raised the possibility that they talked about their future including creating a new party, as both figures are politically moderate and are also against late President Roh Moo-hyun followers within the DUP.
Kim of Polinews said, "Ahn and Sohn have many things in common, so there will be many things they can do together."
Some pundits also speculate that, other than Sohn, anti-Moon factions in the DUP and anti-Park members in the Saenuri Party could join Ahn's new party.
If the 50-year-old politician actually launches his party, political analysts say, it will likely be before a National Assembly by-election slated for April next year.
Myongji University's Shin said, "I think Ahn will come back from the U.S. around February to establish his party. And then he will run for the National Assembly in the by-election."
As for speculation that Ahn will run for the next presidency, Kim said it is just a matter of course as Ahn has stressed that he will continue to march on the political reform path."
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| Ahn Cheol-soo |
Although Ahn failed to help Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party beat Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, he proved his influence during the election.
Political watchers agree that Ahn will continue to command a stronger presence in the political scene.
Analysts mostly say that Park's election will not strike a blow to Ahn. He will hardly be blamed for the opposition's defeat. Rather, there are greater possibilities that more people will blame Moon and the incompetence of the DUP.
Myongji University politics professor Shin Yul said, "With Park's victory, many will hold Roh Moo-hyun factions responsible for the defeat, and at the same time those factions will seek to keep a firmer grip within the DUP and control it."
The professor thinks this will drive anti-Roh figures out of the party, which provides a big opportunity for Ahn to do something with them.
Polinews chairman Kim Neung-gu echoed the view saying, "In this case, the opposition will regard him as an alternative figure to take part in a reshuffle of the liberal side."
He went on to say, "There will be many people among the opposition who think it is essential to restructure political circles in order to overcome Moon's limitations and the DUP. These people will join with Ahn and create a new political party."
Speculation about Ahn's plan to establish a new party arose even before the election. Days before the vote, he disclosed his plan to leave for the U.S. following the polling day.
According to Yoo Min-young, a spokesman for Ahn, the former presidential candidate will stay there for one or two months "to straighten up his thoughts while taking a rest."
Heo Young, one of his secretaries, added, "He will draw up plans for new politics." His former campaign aides also quoted Ahn as saying, "Details on new politics need to be established."
The Polinews head said, "Ahn probably felt the limitations as an independent politician. One of the reasons behind his failure to complete a beautiful alliance with Moon was he was a novice in politics. He must have sensed the need for a party."
Chung Goon-gi, a professor at the Journalism and Media Department at Kyonggi University, expects Ahn's party to be centrist. "He will attempt to win support from middle-of-the-roaders and will attract talent from among those who loathe existing politics," he said.
Further support for this speculation was Ahn's meeting with Sohn Hak-kyu, a DUP senior advisor, three days after his withdrawal from the presidential race. After a private meeting between them, a DUP official quoted Sohn as saying, "Creating new politics is as important as establishing a new liberal government."
Experts raised the possibility that they talked about their future including creating a new party, as both figures are politically moderate and are also against late President Roh Moo-hyun followers within the DUP.
Kim of Polinews said, "Ahn and Sohn have many things in common, so there will be many things they can do together."
Some pundits also speculate that, other than Sohn, anti-Moon factions in the DUP and anti-Park members in the Saenuri Party could join Ahn's new party.
If the 50-year-old politician actually launches his party, political analysts say, it will likely be before a National Assembly by-election slated for April next year.
Myongji University's Shin said, "I think Ahn will come back from the U.S. around February to establish his party. And then he will run for the National Assembly in the by-election."
As for speculation that Ahn will run for the next presidency, Kim said it is just a matter of course as Ahn has stressed that he will continue to march on the political reform path."
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