By Kim Hyo-jin
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, former co-chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), is closer to leaving the party, his aides said, Friday.
Ahn, a software mogul-turned-politician, will hold a press conference on Sunday and unveil whether he will leave the party that he co-founded.
"I had a long talk with Ahn. He appeared to have made up his mind to leave the party," said Rep. Song Ho-chang, a close aide to Ahn. "Chairman Moon Jae-in's rejection of Ahn's proposal to hold a national convention for new leadership has led Ahn to reach the decision."
Another aide said, "There is no reason for him to stay in the NPAD when Moon is refusing to make any reformist moves."
Ahn's possible departure is expected to accelerate the party split, with a sizeable number of elected politicians likely to leave the NPAD that holds 127 parliamentary seats.
According to Rep. Moon Byeong-ho, a close aide to Ahn, some 40 representatives are expected to follow him, which will deal a major blow to the party ahead of the general election scheduled for April 13 next year.
Ahn requested a national convention be held to revamp party leadership in order to alleviate deepening factional strife, but Moon rejected the proposal, claiming it will only bring further party division. Moon reiterated that Ahn should consider joint leadership, refusing to step down despite growing calls for his resignation from fellow lawmakers.
Amid the widening rift, 15 veteran legislators Friday proposed a mediation plan calling for the party to set up an emergency committee that will decide whether to conduct a national convention, only to receive the cold shoulder from Moon.
"I don't think it's worth replying," Moon told reporters.
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| Ahn Cheol-soo |
Ahn, a software mogul-turned-politician, will hold a press conference on Sunday and unveil whether he will leave the party that he co-founded.
"I had a long talk with Ahn. He appeared to have made up his mind to leave the party," said Rep. Song Ho-chang, a close aide to Ahn. "Chairman Moon Jae-in's rejection of Ahn's proposal to hold a national convention for new leadership has led Ahn to reach the decision."
Another aide said, "There is no reason for him to stay in the NPAD when Moon is refusing to make any reformist moves."
Ahn's possible departure is expected to accelerate the party split, with a sizeable number of elected politicians likely to leave the NPAD that holds 127 parliamentary seats.
According to Rep. Moon Byeong-ho, a close aide to Ahn, some 40 representatives are expected to follow him, which will deal a major blow to the party ahead of the general election scheduled for April 13 next year.
Ahn requested a national convention be held to revamp party leadership in order to alleviate deepening factional strife, but Moon rejected the proposal, claiming it will only bring further party division. Moon reiterated that Ahn should consider joint leadership, refusing to step down despite growing calls for his resignation from fellow lawmakers.
Amid the widening rift, 15 veteran legislators Friday proposed a mediation plan calling for the party to set up an emergency committee that will decide whether to conduct a national convention, only to receive the cold shoulder from Moon.
"I don't think it's worth replying," Moon told reporters.
