Tension grows in DP over presidential primary timetable

Jun 23, 2021, 09:01 am

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Yoon Ho-joong, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), talks with lawmaker Seol Hoon, who insisted on the opening of the meeting through a speech at the general meeting of the members at the National Assembly on June 22, 2021./ Photographed by Lee Byung-hwa

AsiaToday reporter Jeong Geum-min

Clash is growing within the ruling Democratic Party’s (DP) presidential hopefuls over the timing of the party’s presidential primary. The party leadership took action to control the situation by gathering opinions of the DP lawmakers, however the tensions are not expected to ease quickly as the situation triggered an emotional conflict between the factions in the party.

The DP held a full-party meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday to raise the issue of postponing the presidential primary and heard opinions from two lawmakers in favor and other two against.

Lawmakers Kim Jong-min and Hong Ki-won came out to argue for the need to postpone the primary. They said that the postponement of the primary is necessary stressing that the situation with COVID-19 should be considered.

The fact that the postponement of primary is not a revision of the party constitution and regulations, unlike the April 7 by-election, also supported their argument. The party’s constitution and regulations state that ‘the presidential primary election should be conducted 180 days before the presidential election’, however it may be decided differently by the resolution of the Party Affairs Committee if there is a good reason.

On the other hand, Lee Jae-myung’s side argued that it was not a matter to be discussed by the party committee, as the “substantial cause” stipulated in the party constitution and regulations corresponded to extremely exceptional cases such as natural disasters.

“It is impossible to postpone the primary not only in terms of cause or principle, but also in terms of practical and realistic aspects,” said lawmaker Kim Byung-wook. “We need to end the discussion as soon as possible and move toward the recreation of the government as a single team,” he said.

“The cause of the defeat of the April 7 by-election lies in not following principles,” said lawmaker Kim Nam-gook. “The primary election schedule is not simply a matter to be decided by consensus of lawmakers, but a promise made to the people and party members through voting by all party members after a series of debate in August last year,” Kim said.

“The defeat of the by-election is caused by hypocrisy and incompetence, but they are not reflecting properly. Instead, they are counting their chickens before they are hatched,” said lawmaker Cho Eung-chun.

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