By Chung Min-uck
Liberal presidential hopefuls are under growing pressure to create a united candidacy in the lead up to the December election, but the candidates have yet to engage in dialogue with just over 50 days left before the poll.
To achieve victory over the Saenuri candidate, Park Geun-hye, most liberals believe Moon Jae-in, the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) candidate, and independent Ahn Cheol-soo have to forge an alliance.
Various polls have shown that in a three-way race Moon and Ahn would be defeated by the ruling Saenuri Party candidate due to a split in the vote.
Last week, influential opposition figures from various sectors urged Moon and Ahn to unify their candidacy before the candidate registration dates of Nov. 25 and 26.
“The opposition alliance should be launched before the registration dates no matter what,” said Kim Han-gil, a Supreme Council member of the DUP, during a radio interview, Monday. “For this, negotiations for the alliance should be finalized by mid-November.”
In line with Kim’s view, Park Young-sun, co-head of Moon’s election campaign strategy committee, said negotiations should begin by next week at the latest. “The two candidates should set aside their respective interests and listen to the voice of the people.”
The DUP candidate allegedly plans to make an “official offer” to Ahn to begin talks for an alliance within this week.
On Sunday, Moon laid out detailed methods and principles for selecting a single candidacy, pressuring the independent candidate to participate actively in the process.
Insiders say that Moon is planning to pull back some earlier proposals such as _ Ahn joining the DUP and conducting nationwide primaries in the course of the candidacy selection.
Ahn prefers public opinion polls to nationwide primaries because Moon could have an advantage by mobilizing his party’s members and apparatus across the country.
Despite the push, Ahn’s side rejected immediate engagement in discussions stressing “public consent” for a successful opposition alliance.
““It is dangerous to think that a unified candidacy can guarantee a victory,” said Park Sun-sook, co-head of Ahn’s election camp, in a briefing, Monday. “October is not over yet. We should first fully adopt the people’s call for a regime change and political reform and give back to them with a victory.”
Observers say Ahn is likely to start engaging with the DUP after announcing his comprehensive campaign pledges on Nov. 10.