Ahn calls it quits in prime minister nomination race

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, December 10, 2023 | 10:35

Politics

Ahn calls it quits in prime minister nomination race

Posted : 2022-03-30 16:57

Updated : 2022-03-31 16:57

Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential transition committee, speaks during a press conference at the committee's office in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Ahn keeps options open for PPP leader position, won't run in June local elections

By Kang Seung-woo

Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team, has taken himself out of consideration for the prime minister position in order to "ease the burden" on the incoming president.

Ahn, who also dropped out of the presidential election to endorse Yoon, said that he is committed to finding qualified candidates for the Cabinet, while doing things that will help cement the support base of the party and stabilize the new administration.

The 60-year-old physician and software mogul had been one of the most likely candidates for prime minister, as Ahn and Yoon had earlier promised to launch a coalition government through their agreement to field a unified candidate. That decision raised speculation that he would use the chairmanship of the transition team as a stepping stone for the prime minister's post.

"I believe that drawing up the blueprint and setting the direction for the next government as the transition committee chairman, rather than participating in the Cabinet, will ease the burden on the president-elect," Ahn said during a press conference at the transition committee's office.

"I came to the conclusion that would be of help to the president-elect in setting the overall direction for state affairs that he plans," he added.

Ahn said he delivered his decision to Yoon, Tuesday, which the president-elect accepted.

Following his withdrawal, there is speculation that Ahn will focus on the People Power Party's (PPP) primary to select its leader next year, as he did not rule out that possibility. Currently, Ahn's People's Party and the PPP are discussing a merger.

Should Ahn take charge of the PPP next year, he will be able to secure the nomination right ahead of the general election in 2024 and tighten his grip on the party, which will then serve as a springboard for another presidential run, according to political watchers.

"PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok's term ends next year, so I do not have it in mind to run for chairman at this point," Ahn said.

"A year is a long time from now, and many things will happen in the meantime. I will make a decision when the time comes because a long-term plan in politics does not run like clockwork."

However, Ahn said he will not run in the local elections, scheduled for June 1. He had been rumored to be considering a run for governor of Gyeonggi Province or mayor of Busan. Ahn is from Busan.

Instead, Ahn said he will take time off to refresh himself as campaigning during both the presidential election and last year's Seoul mayoral by-election have taken a toll on him.

PM nomination possible in early April

Meanwhile, the selection process for Yoon's first prime minister is expected to gain speed with Ahn taking himself out of the prime minister candidate pool. The president-elect is expected to announce his pick at the start of next week at the earliest.

"Ahn delivered his decision to the president-elect yesterday, so the process will pick up speed," Yoon's spokesperson, Kim Eun-hye, said during a press briefing.

"The announcement will be made by early April at the latest," she added.

Yoon is said to prefer a candidate who can handle both economic and security issues, the two most urgent issues that the nation faces.

In that respect, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo seems to lead the pack of candidates, as the 72-year-old served as the deputy prime minister for economic affairs and ambassador to the United States under the previous governments.

In addition, given that Han, a native of Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, worked for former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, there is speculation that it would not be easy for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to oppose him strongly. The two former heads of state were from predecessor parties of the DPK, and North and South Jeolla provinces are traditional liberal strongholds.

Kim Han-gil, a former DPK chief who chairs the transition committee's national unity division, and Park Joo-sun, a former parliamentary vice speaker who leads the presidential inauguration preparation committee, are also under discussion for the prime minister's post.

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr