As the 9th nationwide local elections approach, unexpected developments have thrown candidates from both major parties into disarray.
With party primaries just over 2 months away, the Democratic Party is grappling with internal factions exposed by special prosecutor nominations and merger talks with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party. The People Power Party faces its own challenges with emerging conflicts between old and new power bases, complicating political strategies. The potential administrative merger of Daejeon and Chungnam remains the biggest wild card. Depending on how this unfolds, candidates may need to completely overhaul their election playbooks.
Local political insiders report that the Democratic Party’s Daejeon chapter is currently vetting potential candidates and aims to wrap up all nomination processes, including primaries, by April 21.
The People Power Party is also finalizing its primary schedule and plans to implement a Public Position Applicant Basic Qualification Assessment (PPAT) for preliminary candidates. This evaluation, based on standards from the 8th local elections, will assess the competencies of those running for regional and local council seats.
Candidates who have been following the primary timeline are now struggling to navigate these internal party conflicts.
The ruling party’s factional rifts, sparked by the nomination of special prosecutors and merger discussions with the Innovation Party, have created headaches for candidates. The Democratic Party leadership recently stirred controversy by recommending attorney Jeon Jun-cheol, who defended Kim Seong-tae, the former Ssangbangwool chairman who made damaging statements against President Lee Jae-myung in a North Korea-related case. While party leader Jeong Cheong-rae apologized to quell the uproar, ongoing criticism from pro-Lee lawmakers has undermined the party’s unity. The potential merger with the Innovation Party has further deepened divisions between pro-Chung factions pushing for the union and pro-Lee factions opposing it.
A Democratic Party candidate confided, “The party’s internal split is making it incredibly difficult to craft a coherent election strategy. The potential merger with the Innovation Party could reshape district boundaries, leaving many of us on edge.”
On the other side, opposition candidates are growing increasingly frustrated as tensions between old guard and new factions escalate. The recent expulsion of former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and subsequent ethics complaints against some lawmakers have only intensified these internal divisions. This infighting is distracting from the party’s ability to present a united front in the upcoming elections.
For both parties, the proposed administrative merger of Daejeon and Chungnam looms large. While special legislation has been introduced, ongoing uncertainties have led some candidates to reconsider their campaign promises, bracing for the possibility that the merger might fall through.
A People Power Party candidate expressed concern, saying, “We’ve been developing our platforms assuming the merger will happen. If it doesn’t, we’ll need to completely rethink our approach. A failed merger would impact policies across the board – from economic plans to welfare programs and public safety initiatives.”
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