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Let's start with the surprise political announcement that changes the nation's political landscape
significantly... The leaders of Korea's two opposition parties
on Sunday announced plans to launch a new party that they say will be up-and-running
ahead of local elections in June. They also hope the move will help dislodge
the ruling party at the next presidential election in 2017.
Park Ji-won starts us off. Main opposition Democratic Party leader Kim
Han-gil and Ahn Cheol-soo of the New Political Vision Party announced Sunday that they will
unite to form a new political party.
"Both parties aim to push ahead for the creation of the new united party as soon as possible,...
and to achieve a transfer of power in the presidential election in 2017."
They said the new party will not nominate candidates for local council and ward elections
in the upcoming June elections,... such as municipal council elections and local district
council elections. The major parties' nomination for local council
member elections has long been considered a source of corruption and bribes.
"We decided not to nominate candidates for local wards and local council member elections
in the June elections. This decision has been made after pondering what choices would be
necessary to achieve the transfer of government in 2017."
The new party will focus on the livelihoods of the people and on establishing a fairer
economic system,... along with a focus on launching further investigations into the
spy agency's meddling in the 2012 presidential election.
Both agreed to complete necessary procedures of forming the new party before the June local
elections,... by jointly setting up a preparatory committee.
However, political insiders say they expect some friction during the merger process.
The announcement of the coalition came as a big surprise,... especially considering
Ahn Cheol-soo declared just a matter of weeks ago that he would launch his own new political
party. Ahn says he felt reassured about the merger
plan,... when the DP decided to give up the controversial nomination system.
The ruling Saenuri Party denounced the merger... calling it "collusion" that is purely aimed
at short-term political gain at the June elections. Park Ji-won, Arirang News.