Moon attempts to recover broken relations with Ahn
By Jun Ji-hye
New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in looks pensive during the party’s Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap
New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in said Friday that the party will accept 10 reformative measures proposed by former party leader Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, apparently trying to recover the two’s damaged relations.
Moon told the party’s Supreme Council that the main opposition side should reflect Ahn’s 10 proposals, aimed at rooting out corruption, in its constitution and regulation.
“Moon suggested accepting Ahn’s reformative measures, and the Supreme Council voted for it,” NPAD spokesman Kim Sung-soo said.
The move was regarded as Moon bidding to mend ties with Ahn that seemed to be seriously broken after the two rejected each other’s offers designed to rebuild the party to win the April general elections.
On Sunday, Ahn rejected Moon’s earlier proposal to form a three-way leadership with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to prepare for next year’s general elections, making a counter-proposal to carry out a “reformative national convention” to elect a new chairman from the beginning.
Moon rejected Ahn’s counter-proposal Thursday, saying conducting a national convention at this stage cannot be a solution, and from a common-sense point of view, it is not proper for him to step down from the chairmanship and run in the convention again.
After Moon’s refusal, speculation was rampant that aggravation of relations between the two was irremediable and Ahn might quit the NPAD.
Ahn’s 10 reformative measures, which he announced in September, include the exclusion of those accused of corruption cases from the examination of qualifications to nominate election candidates.
If this is stipulated in the party’s constitution, it can directly affect nominations of several incumbent lawmakers including Rep. Park Jie-won, who is in a trial on charges of receiving 80 million won ($71,000) from two savings banks. This will likely cause a backlash from some party members.
Observers say Moon seemed to decide to take the risk to go with Ahn and prevent his defection.
Ahn, former co-chairman of the largest opposition party, has yet officially to respond to Moon’s acceptance of the 10 measures, but negative reactions are already coming from Ahn’s aides.
They say they have no choice but to doubt Moon’s sincerity to accept Ahn’s 10 measures only now, saying Ahn has called on the chairman to accept them since September.
“Ahn now believes that 10 measures are not enough at this stage to create the party’s vision for the general elections, and a reformative national convention is necessary,” said an aide to Ahn, on condition of anonymity. “The NPAD needs to make a bolder decision beyond accepting the 10 measures.”
Lawmakers who do not support Moon’s leadership in the party are also reacting against Moon’s refusal to hold a national convention.
Reps. Hwang Ju-hong and You Sung-yop urged Moon to step down, saying the chairman has never taken responsibility for the party’s defeat in the previous elections.
Rep. Joo Seung-yong did not appear at the Supreme Council meeting, raising the likelihood that he might step down from the position in protest against Moon.
However, Rep. Park Byeong-seug, former deputy speaker of the National Assembly, said Moon and Ahn should join hands.
“I will coordinate as well as pressure them if necessary,” he said.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye