안철수•유승민, 통합 공동선언…"구태정치와의 전쟁"
The People's Party and the Bareun Party officially announced plans to merge.
A joint press conference by the current party leaders was held to explain the reason behind their decision and their political vision going forward.
Kim Min-ji has the latest.
In a surprise press conference Thursday,.... the chairs of the center-left People's Party and the center-right Bareun Party announced they're planning to form a new party,... putting an end to months of will they or won't they.
It comes just weeks after the two minor parties launched a joint committee to act as bridge for integration.
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"The People's Party and the Bareun Party will come together to create a new unified reformist party that will pave the way for a better world and a hopeful future. As the heads of the two parties, we will overcome all difficulties and put every effort for the new party's success."
They said the new party will bring together reform-minded conservatives and rational centrists,... to meet the people's aspiration for political reform.
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"The new party will have two goals, they said -- to work for the people... and to make a brighter future for the country. They also vowed to break away from the old politics -- stepping aside from ideology and factionalism -- and to write a new chapter in Korea's politics."
They hope to position the party as an alternative to the two major parties -- the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition Liberty Korea Party.
The new party will make security its top priority -- to deal with the North Korea nuclear issue based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance.
On the economic front, they vowed to foster a free and fair market economy to achieve growth and job creation.
The merger will create a party with 48 lawmakers -- if all of them agree to get on board -- making them the third largest party in the National Assembly.
They will also have two former presidential candidates in their ranks.
However, there are opponents of the merger in both parties.
Recently, the Bareun Party was dealt a blow when three of its key lawmakers said they will quit and join the main conservative party.
Dissenters within the People's Party have also said the merger will obscure their political identity.
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"The merger by Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seong-min, who both face impending splits in their parties, will kill off the multi-party system... and lead to a system of endless collusion in Korean politics."
The People's Party will be holding a national convention next month to make a final decision on the merger,... but it remains to be seen if and how those in favor of it will be able to convince the skeptics... with just over two weeks to go.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
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