South Korean Acting President Declines to Enter PPP Presidential Primary: Party Leader
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 15, South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo has announced he will not participate in the PPP's presidential primary for the June 3 election, as confirmed by the party's floor leader, amid ongoing speculation about his candidacy.
Key Takeaways
- Han Duck-soo will not run in the PPP primary.
- The primary registration ends today.
- Focus on defeating Lee Jae-myung is emphasized.
- New presidential election set for June 3.
- Public servants must resign by May 4.
Seoul, April 15 (NationPress) The Acting President of South Korea, Han Duck-soo, has decided not to enter the presidential primary of the People Power Party (PPP) for the upcoming June 3 election, as confirmed by the party's floor leader on Tuesday. This announcement comes amidst ongoing speculation regarding Han's potential candidacy.
Kweon Seong-dong affirmed Han's position as the PPP is set to conclude candidate registration for the primary later today.
“Speculating about Han's candidacy is counterproductive to generating public interest in the primary and does not aid his responsibilities as an Acting President,” Kweon stated during a party gathering.
Han, who has recently been highlighted in polls as a top presidential contender, indicated on Monday his commitment to addressing the US tariff crisis, a statement that many interpreted as a rejection of a presidential run.
Kweon emphasized that the primary should concentrate on identifying a robust candidate capable of defeating Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the liberal Democratic Party and a prominent presidential contender, accusing Lee of hindering government processes, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“We must unite to overcome the challenges posed by Lee Jae-myung, who threatens to plunge the nation into perpetual political turmoil and division,” Kweon asserted, advocating for party cohesion towards a shared objective.
The South Korean government has set June 3 as the date for the forthcoming presidential election following the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
This decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting just four days after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment due to his brief declaration of martial law in December.
According to the Constitution, a new election must be conducted within 60 days of a presidential vacancy.
Additionally, June 3 has been designated as a temporary public holiday.
The National Election Commission initiated early candidate registration shortly after the Constitutional Court dismissed Yoon last Friday.
Candidates must register by May 11, with the formal campaign period beginning on May 12.
The law mandates that any public servant aspiring to the presidency must resign at least 30 days prior to the election, setting a deadline of May 4.
The newly elected President will take office immediately after the election without a transition team, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
