Election Showdown: How the Failed Merger Affects Democratic Party’s Strategy Against Justice Party in Upcoming Local Elections

The merger proposal between the Democratic Party and Cho Kuk’s Innovation Party, championed by Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae, is now on the verge of collapse, leaving only division within the ruling bloc. This setback, coupled with the controversy surrounding the nomination of candidates for the second comprehensive special investigation, has significantly limited Jeong’s political maneuverability.

Following a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly on the 10th, Democratic Party chief spokesperson Park Soo-hyun reported, “While lawmakers generally agreed on the need for unity, they collectively concluded that pursuing a merger in the current climate would be challenging, despite potential justifications.” Park elaborated, “Even though the merger proposal was rooted in a genuine desire for ‘successful governance through a landslide victory in local elections,’ we acknowledge that it has ultimately led to conflict.”

During the general meeting, while there was no explicit opposition to merging with the Innovation Party, concerns were primarily raised about the timing and method of the merger. At a separate meeting with re-elected party members attended by Jeong, the prevailing opinion favored postponing the merger. The Democratic Party is set to reach a final decision on pursuing the merger during a closed Supreme Council meeting that evening. Jeong plans to personally announce the party’s official stance at the Supreme Council meeting the following day. After Jeong’s announcement, Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party, will also make a statement.

With the merger off the table before the local elections, both the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party are expected to focus on competition rather than collaboration. Shin Jang-sik, a Supreme Council member of the Innovation Party, stated on a radio show, “We’ll unite our efforts to reduce the People Power Party’s influence to zero,” but added, “However, in Honam, where the People Power Party already has no presence, we’ll compete with the Democratic Party.” Innovation Party spokesperson Park Byeong-eon remarked, “We feel like victims who have suffered due to the Democratic Party’s lack of a clear proposal,” and called for an apology from them.

Analysts suggest that the merger’s collapse stems from accumulated dissatisfaction with Jeong’s leadership, including his core pledges like the ‘one person, one vote system for delegates and party members’ and the surprise merger proposal. They believe President Lee Jae-myung’s criticism of the nomination for the second comprehensive special investigation was a crucial turning point. Non-mainstream Supreme Council members have intensified their attacks on Jeong for recommending Jeon Jun-cheol, a lawyer who previously represented Kim Sung-tae, the former chairman of the Ssangbangwool Group, as a special investigation candidate.

Non-mainstream members have begun to consolidate their position by forming a group of lawmakers aimed at dropping the prosecution of President Lee and promoting a national investigation. This group, which includes over 70 lawmakers such as Supreme Council members Lee Eon-joo, Kang Deuk-gu, and Hwang Myeong-seon who publicly opposed the merger, plans to hold an inaugural press conference on the 12th. Representative Park Sung-jun will serve as the co-chair, while Representative Lee Geon-tae, who proposed the group, will oversee operations as the secretary.