ed Ahn's withdrawal

Time for parties to compete over policies, livelihood

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) has decided to conduct a survey of party members and the general public over whether to nominate candidates for municipal government and council posts in the June 4 local elections.

The decision came after Ahn Cheol-soo, co-leader of the newly merged party with 130 seats, changed his stance a day after President Park Geun-hye turned down a request to meet and discuss the nomination issue. The survey was conducted Wednesday and its results will be announced Thursday, reflecting a 50-50 weighting for each group.

Whatever the results may be, Ahn’s decision is welcomed, given that the survey will serve as an occasion for the rival parties to put an end to confusion on the issue and enable competition on a level playing field. In fact, there has been concern that the legitimacy of the upcoming polls will come into question if the ruling and opposition parties compete under two different sets of rules.

Still, chances are that the NPAD, which came into being late last month through the merger of the then largest opposition Democratic Party and Ahn’s followers, could continue to grapple with internal disputes, regardless of the survey results. But it’s none other than the liberal party that should be held accountable for its possible disturbances.

In case Ahn’s argument for no nomination is upheld, the party will have to appeal to the electorate by focusing on its commitment to "new politics’’ despite its political disadvantage. If the survey results in nomination, the NPAD will have to make an honorable retreat from its election promise.

The CEO-turned-politician’s withdrawal from his stubborn adherence to no party nomination is certainly an inevitable exit plan that comes amid the party’s deepening internal wrangling. At a time when the ruling party reneged on its pledge and decided to nominate candidates, it was true that fears of a stunning defeat gripped the opposition party significantly. Against this backdrop, Ahn may have had no other choice but to look for a way out by asking the will of the public and party members.

His abrupt turnaround will deal a blow to people’s trust in the former software mogul to a certain extent, but he needs to understand the reality of politics. It’s foolish for politicians to stick to promises they can’t keep. Also, it’s a gross dereliction of duty if Ahn turns a blind eye to the current political chaos as a co-leader of the largest opposition party.

The governing Saenuri Party is not qualified to denounce the NPAD over its latest decision. It’s too brazen for the ruling party to ask its political opponents to keep a promise at a time when it is deriving benefit from its failure to honor pledges.

Our politicians have been engaged in wasteful debate over the nomination issue for too long. It’s time for them to restore calm and compete fairly on policies and people’s livelihood. The electorate will ultimately judge which side is wrong in the local elections.