The People Power Party announced on the 10th that the vote to reselect former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as its presidential candidate was rejected. Consequently, the qualification of former candidate Kim Moon-soo was immediately restored.
The responsibility theory regarding the People Power Party leadership, which hastily attempted to unify by replacing the presidential candidate, is expected to become inevitable.
◇ “Vote on ‘reslection of the candidate’ rejected by a narrow margin”
Shin Dong-uk, the senior spokesperson, met with reporters after a late-night emergency committee meeting held at 11 p.m., saying, “The vote on the candidate reslection process that has been progressing was rejected by a narrow margin in the party-wide vote today.”
The People Power Party conducted an ARS survey on candidate replacement for all party members from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. that day.
Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se announced his intention to resign. However, the committee is expected to continue to be led by floor leader Kwon Seong-dong in a ‘acting system’.
Chairman Kwon said after the late-night emergency committee that “the proposal for the party member vote results for the nomination of a presidential candidate was rejected,” and “although it was a decision made out of sincerity to establish a competitive candidate, ultimately, it did not gain the consent of party members.”
He continued, “I believe it is due to my shortcomings. I take full responsibility and will step down,” expressing his intention to resign.
Candidate Han Duck-soo also immediately issued a statement, saying, “I will humbly accept the will of the people and party members.”
He stated, “I sincerely hope that candidate Kim Moon-soo and the People Power Party will win in this presidential election,” and added, “I am grateful for all the interest, support, criticisms, and feedback received thus far.”
◇ The ‘urgent replacement of the candidate’ blocked by the party member vote... Responsibility theory is expected to grow
Earlier, the People Power Party had quickly proceeded with the ‘replacement of the presidential candidate.’ From midnight on the 10th, the party leadership urgently held an extraordinary committee meeting and presented and processed the agenda for ‘disqualification and re-selection of the presidential candidate.’
The subject was passed with the approval of 6 out of 7 emergency committee members, and next, the party’s election management committee processed the agenda to cancel the selection of candidate Kim Moon-soo. Subsequently, the committee also unanimously approved the agenda for the ‘admission and candidate registration of Han Duck-soo.’
Afterward, around 2:30 a.m., the party election management committee announced the public notice for candidate registration for the 21st presidential election, and candidate Han Duck-soo completed his candidate registration around 3:20 a.m. through the document process.
Then, around 4:40 a.m., the People Power Party emergency committee held another meeting and resolved the agenda to replace the presidential candidate with Han Duck-soo.
However, ultimately on that day, the proposal for candidate reslection conducted for all party members was rejected, preventing the ‘final hurdle’ from being cleared.
In particular, the criticism regarding this ‘late-night presidential candidate replacement operation’ leads to raised responsibility theories against the leadership within the People Power Party.
Moreover, as candidate Kim Moon-soo and candidate Han Duck-soo underwent negotiations regarding the issue of the unification survey method, there are projections that their exchanges included unseemly remarks and threatened litigation, which could negatively impact public opinion.
◇ Kim Moon-soo: “Everything will be back in its place... Building a front against Lee Jae-myung”
Having regained the qualification to be the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo stated that night, “Now everything will return to its place,” and added, “I will immediately launch the election committee and set up a big tent to build a front against Lee Jae-myung.”
Candidate Kim also mentioned, “I will lead the presidential election to victory together with fellow candidates Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Na Kyung-won, Yang Hyang-ja, Yoo Jeong-bok, and Lee Cheol-woo.”
In particular, he said to candidate Han Duck-soo, “I hope you will stay until the end and participate in this presidential election,” and added, “I will unite with all those who share the same intent.”