DP’s Lee Jae-myung, Lee Nak-yon close to making presidential bid

Jun 28, 2021, 08:35 am

		0
This composite file picture shows Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung, former DP Chairman Lee Nak-yon, and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun./ Captured from Facebook

AsiaToday reporter Jeong Geum-min

As the ruling Democratic Party has confirmed its primary schedule for next year’s presidential election, the three major presidential hopefuls are gearing up for the primary race. The ruling DP’s leading presidential hopeful, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung plans to formalize his presidential bid when the registration of preliminary candidates run. Former DP leader Lee Nak-yon, who is the second runner, is considering announcing his candidacy early next month. Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who has already announced his presidential bid, is looking for the possibility of solidarity with other candidates.

The DP leadership has decided to follow the current party constitution and not to postpone its primary elections. As a result, the DP will start with the registration of preliminary candidates from Monday to Wednesday. Starting July 9, the party will hold a three-day preliminary primary. The main primary will be held on September 5. If there is no majority, a runoff will be held between the first and second place candidates on September 10.

As the primary timetable has been finalized, the candidates are starting to take steps.

DP’s leading presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung will make the final decision on when to declare his presidential bid considering this week’s political events in the opposition bloc. “Lee had initially considered declaring his candidacy on Monday, but he decided to review a little longer as former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl will declare his presidential bid on Tuesday,” a lawmaker considered as Lee’s supporter said in a phone interview with AsiaToday on Sunday.

Former DP head Lee Nak-yon is also preparing for an official move following the party’s months-long internal division on the primary timetable. Lee Nak-yon is considering to declare his candidacy early next month. He is reportedly finalizing the details and vision that will be included in his declaration of the presidency bid.

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is taking steps to expand his power base. He attended a launching ceremony of the Gwangju and Jeonnam headquarters of his support group called ‘Balance Ladder’ in Gwangju, the capital of South Jeolla Province, on Sunday. He is planning to visit other regions, including Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyengsang Province. He is apparently trying to win the public sentiment in Honam, the traditional voting base for liberals, to expand his power base.

The preliminary primary will involve a survey of the general public and party members and announce the top six candidates eligible for the main primary. Currently, a total of nine party members have declared they will join the race to win the DP’s ticket for the presidential election, including the three major candidates, ex-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon.

Some observers say that that the final structure of candidates would be reorganized between Lee Jae-myung and non-Lee Jae-myung after the two-week preliminary race.

#Lee Jae-myung #Lee Nak-yon #Chung Sye-kyun #Democratic Party #preliminary