People Power Party Innovation Committee Stalls… Ahn Cheol-soo Announces Challenge for Party Leadership

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, ultimately declares his intention to challenge for the party's leadership. Although there were indications he might not run for the party convention after accepting the role of innovation committee chair, the collapse of the committee due to personnel conflicts led him to take a forefront stance.

On the 7th, Ahn officially announced his candidacy for the party leadership election at the People Power Party's national convention to be held next month (August). He was expected to announce the committee's personnel, but the discussions with emergency committee chair Song Eun-seok regarding the appointments fell through, leading to its cancellation.

The innovation committee was established to prepare reform proposals for the party before the convention, with Ahn expected to directly lead the party's innovation efforts as the chairman. However, conflicts over the appointments with Song’s side ultimately resulted in its failure to launch.

"I cannot accept a rushed innovation committee… I will challenge for an innovative party leadership"

At the press conference, Ahn stated, "I cannot accept a rushed innovation committee that was not agreed upon. I will run for the national convention. I challenge myself to become the party leader who will innovate the People Power Party."

Regarding his resignation from the innovation committee chairmanship, he explained, "I accepted the proposal to be the innovation committee chair with a desperate heart for the party, but before we could even open the door to innovation, I was met with a massive wall. I judged that at least a minimal personnel cleanup had to be executed and consulted with the emergency committee, but we ultimately failed to reach an agreement."

He continued, "Everyone, including party members and citizens, knows that innovation starts with personnel renewal. However, watching those who do not sign the surgery consent form in front of a patient whose life is in jeopardy, I felt a deep sense of disillusionment beyond despair."

"I will take up the knife instead of a scalpel… A challenge for party leadership"

He remarked, "Then, I will take up a knife instead of a scalpel," emphasizing, "I will become the party leader and push for strong and decisive innovation myself."

Initially, it was widely anticipated that Ahn would not run in this convention after accepting the role of innovation committee chair.

However, with the failure of the innovation committee's formation, his challenge for party leadership has become a foregone conclusion. There are assessments within and outside the People Power Party that "the stalling of the innovation committee has actually provided Ahn with a justification to run."

"The landscape of party leadership candidates is expected to shake"

With Ahn, who was initially considered a candidate for party leadership, suddenly announcing his candidacy, the dynamics of the national convention are expected to change significantly.

As Ahn Cheol-soo enters the race, the party dynamics will shift, and the responsibility for the failure of the innovation committee will also test the leadership of Song Eun-seok.

Additionally, movements from former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and former party leader Han Dong-hoon are also expected to become more active.

The People Power Party's national convention is scheduled to be held in mid-next month.

Image sources: ytn, Song Eun-seok, People Power Party floor leader / News1, Kim Moon-soo, former presidential candidate / News1, Han Dong-hoon, former People Power Party leader / News1