Minor conservative party likely to merge with Saenuri

The conservative minority Advancement and Unification Party on Wednesday confirmed its plan to join forces with the ruling Saenuri Party ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

“We intend to form an alliance with a party and candidate which shares the same values and policy views,” said AUP chief Rep. Rhee In-je in the party’s Supreme Council meeting.

The sixth-term lawmaker said that the AUP and the ruling Saenuri Party have been holding solidarity talks with the aim of securing victory in the December race. He also pressed officials for a final decision, pointing out that only 56 days remained until the Dec. 19 election.

Though the party chief did not specify the details of the union, most supreme councilors supported a complete merger instead of a temporary election alliance.

In that case, the ruling party would increase its parliamentary seats from 149 to 153, once again regaining the majority in the 300-member National Assembly.

The AUP was formed in 2008 as the Liberty Forward Party under the lead of Lee Hoi-chang, and once exerted its influence as the third-largest party in parliament.

The Chungcheong-based party, however, was reduced to a fringe party after this year’s general election and a series of internal feuds.

By Bae Hyun-jung ()