Merger of major liberal groups tied up over party election rules

By Chung Min-uck

While minor liberal parties successfully merged Monday, bigger liberal entities are facing hurdles in their bid to form a united party ahead of general election slated for April.

There is internal feuding within the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) over how to select the leadership for the envisioned new party, which deals a blow to the move towards a coalition.

“To force party members to follow the agreement on the DP leadership is old style leadership,” said Rep. Park Jie-won, former DP floor leader, in a letter to Moon Sung-keun.

Moon heads civic group Power to the People and is co-representative of Innovation and Integration, a council largely consisting of late former President Roh Moo-hyun’s aides.

Innovation and Integration plans to create a new party today named the Citizens Unity Party to gain a legal basis for the integration with the DP.

On Monday, Moon said during a press conference that they have already agreed with DP Chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu to select the leadership of the projected new party by reflecting 80 percent of open public votes and 20 percent of opinions of party members and representatives.

The comment soon faced a severe backlash from DP members including Park who wants a bigger portion given to party members as it could increase their chances of winning tickets for the general election.

The former DP floor leader has been insisting on an integration led by his party and is said to be aiming to become its next leader.

The main opposition party is scheduled to hold a party convention on Dec. 11 to finalize discussions on liberal integration.

Meanwhile, Moon Jae-in, Roh Foundation chairman and co-representative of the Innovation and Integration, said in an interview that “if the DP tries to only integrate without the will for reform, we will give up on the unified party.”