The Democratic Party has dismissed the notion of a “Plan B” and is focusing on maintaining the leadership of Lee Jae-myung despite his recent first-instance ruling for violating the Public Official Election Act. Critics within and outside the party are paying attention to potential non-Lee Jae-myung aligned presidential hopefuls, but the consensus is that their immediate political maneuvering is limited, given the still-solid central force around Lee. To prevent internal division, Lee’s supporters are actively working to maintain party unity.
Some members of the pro-Lee faction have made bold statements, with Representative Choi Min-hee causing controversy by declaring at an outdoor rally that if the non-Lee faction starts making moves, “they will die” and she would “take them down” with party members. However, the party’s spokesperson clarified that these views do not represent the party’s official stance.
Internally, the view is that the current political climate doesn’t provide much room for opposition figures to step up given the risk of appearing opportunistic in Lee’s moment of vulnerability. Former legislator remarked that moving too quickly could lead to the misconception that opponents were merely waiting for a chance to undermine Lee.
Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon also ruled out plans for presidential activities, criticizing what he sees as one-sided investigations against opposition while ignoring those in power.
Observers expect the political advancements of opposition figures to be influenced by outcomes of Lee’s upcoming trials, including the verdict on his charges of instigation of perjury and the second-instance trial related to the Public Official Election Act. The political repercussions and public reaction to these judicial developments will be crucial in shaping the Democratic Party’s future strategies.