Ahn issues ultimatum on change

Factional infighting at the main opposition party showed no signs of abating as the party’s former cochairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo on Sunday reiterated his call for an early convention to replace current chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in.

Ahn of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy demanded last week that a party caucus be held by January to select a new leadership before the April 13 general election. Moon rejected the idea Thursday but instead accepted a set of reform measures suggested by Ahn three months ago. Ahn, again, called on Moon to reconsider.

“This is not the time to cling to one’s vested rights. … Let me know clearly if you have no intention to transform our party together … (Accepting my reform measures) is not enough to overcome the crisis that the party faces,” Ahn said in a press conference, reiterating the need for Moon’s referendum.

The power struggle between Moon and Ahn is seen as fueling the factional divide in the NPAD, which is beset by flagging support and threats from dissenting lawmakers that they will leave the party unless changes are made.

Since Moon took office in February, the NPAD has seen a string of liberal heavyweights’ departures. Rep. Chun Jung-bae defected in March in protest against Moon’s refusal to nominate him for the 2015 April by-elections. Third-term lawmaker Rep. Park Joo-sun left the party in September amid Moon’s push to overhaul the party in the wake of by-election defeats.

With over a year left in Moon’s tenure as a party leader, sources described Ahn’s remark as an ultimatum to his former rival Moon, indicating Ahn would join the defectors unless Moon accepted his “final” proposal. Moon and Ahn had competed during 2012 presidential race.

“I am not going to make any more suggestions or proposals. … If Moon is reelected, I will endorse the decision and give my full support to him. I sincerely urge Moon to consider what is best for the party,” Ahn said.

Ahn highlighted that the referendum on Moon’s leadership was the only option to reassure the voters and the NPAD members in the run-up to the general election, refuting Moon’s dismissal that his plan was an attempt to deepen party divisions.  

Former NPAD chairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo on Sunday helds press conference at the National Assembly. Yonhap

Moon did not immediately respond to Ahn’s challenge, saying he would “not speak today” about Ahn’s press conference.

Public opinion remained split over the issue. According to the survey of local pollster Realmeter released on Thursday, 32.9 percent of NPAD supporters endorsed Moon’s leadership, outweighing 21.4 percent of those who approved Ahn’s referendum move. More unaffiliated voters, meanwhile, supported Ahn’s plan with 36.4 percent agreeing to it.

The two NPAD heavyweight’s feud escalated after Moon asked Ahn to join a three-way coalition leadership with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Nov. 18. Ahn rejected the proposal and insisted on holding a party caucus to overhaul the leadership.

The NPAD has been pushing to overhaul the party with a tougher in-house nomination procedure and ethical regulations in light of heavy factional fighting and repeated election defeats.

Observers have forecast another major defeat by the NPAD against the Saenuri in the April general election based on current approval ratings. According to a Dec. 3 survey from local pollster Realmeter, the NPAD’s ratings came at 27.1 percent, while the ruling Saenuri Party recorded 43.9 percent.

On Thursday, the NPAD leader had vowed to strengthen his grip on the party’s governance. Moon said he would oversee the committee recruiting candidates for the parliamentary race and that he would refer them to the party for transparent nominations.

Moon also pledged he would hold accountable those who refuse to undergo the party’s review board for the nomination. As an example, Moon urged the party’s ethics committee to discipline Rep. Yoo Sung-yup and Hwang Ju-hong, who refused to participate in the review process. 

The latest move has been to change the party’s name. With 73 percent of its members supporting the change, the party will gather public opinion about the new name from Dec. 7-14. The party will select the name through the votes of NPAD members and a public survey.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)