By Choi Ha-young
Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the minor liberal People's Party, Tuesday, denied speculation that his push for a merger with the minor conservative Bareun Party is linked to his possible bid for the 2022 presidential election.
In a radio interview, Ahn, who ran in the past election as the People's Party candidate, emphasized that a merger with the Bareun Party is for "survival" of his party.
"If we fail in local elections next year, we have no future," Ahn said. "There are some people who link my ongoing move to an election that will happen five years from now. Their claims are absurd."
Rumors are circulating that he is seeking to run in the next presidential election as a conservative candidate.
Dismissing the rumors, Ahn stressed that his merger plan is to overcome an ideological barrier in Korean politics. "Gaining support across ideological lines is essential to survive as a minor party. Looking back at the history of numerous minor parties, they faded away when they failed to expand their support bases," he said.
"It's extremely difficult to survive as a third party. The People's Party and the Bareun Party should become one to win the local elections in June against the two major parties."
Regarding the different ideological backgrounds of the two parties, Ahn said, "This is like a marriage between two persons with different blood types."
Ahn said, if merger goes smoothly, a new party will be launched in February.
Last week, the chairman proposed a vote by all party members on whether to merge with the Bareun Party. Ahn said he will resign from the leadership of the party if the majority of party members disapprove of his bid. The party-wide vote is scheduled from today until Saturday and the outcome will be announced on Dec. 31.
Even if Ahn wins the vote a thorny path is ahead of him. He is likely to face protests from the anti-merger faction, primarily composed of lawmakers from the liberal Jeolla region. Among 39 People's Party lawmakers, 20 people joined the move to apply for a court injunction to halt the upcoming vote, Monday.
They may leave the party in protest against Ahn's leadership, which may harm the significance of the consolidation. In addition, 11 Bareun Party lawmakers could rejoin the larger conservative Liberty Korea Party. Pundits said the new party's number of seats is likely to hover around 34 ― apparently smaller than the existing People's Party.
"The new party has to blend different values ― the centrism of the People's Party and the reformist conservatism of the Bareun Party ― which looks impossible. The new party without an identity cannot appeal to voters," political analyst Choi Young-il said. "Ahn is calling for the multiparty system, but his bid may put an end to the minor parties."
Ahead of the crucial moment of the party's fate, rival factions are staging all-out struggles, Tuesday. The pro-merger faction claimed that Ahn's bid can "fundamentally renovate the ideologically divided society" in a press conference. On the other hand, the anti-merger faction pledged to "boycott" the vote.
 |
| Ahn Cheol-soo |
In a radio interview, Ahn, who ran in the past election as the People's Party candidate, emphasized that a merger with the Bareun Party is for "survival" of his party.
"If we fail in local elections next year, we have no future," Ahn said. "There are some people who link my ongoing move to an election that will happen five years from now. Their claims are absurd."
Rumors are circulating that he is seeking to run in the next presidential election as a conservative candidate.
Dismissing the rumors, Ahn stressed that his merger plan is to overcome an ideological barrier in Korean politics. "Gaining support across ideological lines is essential to survive as a minor party. Looking back at the history of numerous minor parties, they faded away when they failed to expand their support bases," he said.
"It's extremely difficult to survive as a third party. The People's Party and the Bareun Party should become one to win the local elections in June against the two major parties."
Regarding the different ideological backgrounds of the two parties, Ahn said, "This is like a marriage between two persons with different blood types."
Ahn said, if merger goes smoothly, a new party will be launched in February.
Last week, the chairman proposed a vote by all party members on whether to merge with the Bareun Party. Ahn said he will resign from the leadership of the party if the majority of party members disapprove of his bid. The party-wide vote is scheduled from today until Saturday and the outcome will be announced on Dec. 31.
Even if Ahn wins the vote a thorny path is ahead of him. He is likely to face protests from the anti-merger faction, primarily composed of lawmakers from the liberal Jeolla region. Among 39 People's Party lawmakers, 20 people joined the move to apply for a court injunction to halt the upcoming vote, Monday.
They may leave the party in protest against Ahn's leadership, which may harm the significance of the consolidation. In addition, 11 Bareun Party lawmakers could rejoin the larger conservative Liberty Korea Party. Pundits said the new party's number of seats is likely to hover around 34 ― apparently smaller than the existing People's Party.
"The new party has to blend different values ― the centrism of the People's Party and the reformist conservatism of the Bareun Party ― which looks impossible. The new party without an identity cannot appeal to voters," political analyst Choi Young-il said. "Ahn is calling for the multiparty system, but his bid may put an end to the minor parties."
Ahead of the crucial moment of the party's fate, rival factions are staging all-out struggles, Tuesday. The pro-merger faction claimed that Ahn's bid can "fundamentally renovate the ideologically divided society" in a press conference. On the other hand, the anti-merger faction pledged to "boycott" the vote.
![[INTERVIEW] Preserving Tanzania's wonders through sustainable tourism](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/9606b2df96df45e0b85a8f8df5a15235.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
