By Chung Min-uck
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo plans to engage in discussion with the main opposition Democratic United Party’s (DUP) presidential candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in to create a unified liberal candidacy at the end of this month, a key official in Ahn’s election camp said, Monday.
The possible Ahn-Moon alliance has been the hottest issue ahead of the presidential election slated for Dec. 19 because such a coalition could strongly increase the likelihood of the liberals clinching a victory over Rep. Park Geun-hye, the ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential candidate, according to various surveys.
However, if a joint candidacy is not agreed, there will be a split vote meaning the two presidential hopefuls are likely to be defeated by Park, who enjoys solid support from conservative voters.
“Detailed talks on launching a single candidacy will take place by the end of this month,” said Professor Kim Ho-ki, the head of the political reform section in Ahn’s camp. “But reform in the current political landscape is the priority. We are not saying we aren’t going to seek a single candidacy. Discussions for coalition will naturally take place after that.”
Ahn’s camp later downplayed Kim’s remarks saying they were his “personal view” not the camp’s official position.
Ahn, who earlier pledged efforts to revamp the outdated political system, suggested “thorough political reform” and “public approval” as two preconditions for an opposition coalition.
Ahn on Sunday specified his standards presenting “expert evaluation,” “public survey” and “broad public support in the field” as ways of selecting a single opposition candidate.
Political pundits say the two sides are likely to unify right before the deadline for presidential candidate registration which falls on Nov. 25 and 26 after solidifying support bases and announcing blueprints on how to run the country.
Ahn plans to unveil the final version of his campaign pledges on Nov. 10, according to Park Sun-sook who spearheads Ahn’s camp.
On Monday, Ahn continued his campaign tour visiting southeastern city of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the conservative camp’s home turf.
The DUP has been more aggressive to come up with a single candidate with the IT mogul-turned-politician after seeing a spike in Moon’s popularity rating.
Popularity rating is conceived as one of the yardsticks in selecting who will be the final runner for the opposition side.
Former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, who was recently designated as the head of People’s Unity Committee in Moon’s election camp, urged the two candidates to unite as soon as possible citing people’s sentiment which could “turn unfavorable toward opposition alliance if it is dragged for a long time.”
Yoon used to be Ahn’s political mentor.
Rep. Kim Han-gil, a supreme council member of the DUP, also met with Park Sun-sook upon his request earlier this month. Though denied, insiders say the two have exchanged views of the issue.
Meanwhile, the Saenuri Party stepped up its attack on Ahn for hinting at a possible collusion with the DUP.
“Unifying candidacies is old politics,” said Lee Jung-hyun, the head of communications in Park’s election camp, Monday. “If the second and third-ranking candidates try to win the election by colluding it would distort the public sentiment and make a travesty of politics.”