New Political Party To Be Launched Next Month

Defectors from the Democratic and Uri parties looking to create a new political party have decided to launch the provisionally named “Moderate Reform Integrative New Party.”

In a briefing on April 18, Democratic spokesperson Yoo Jong-pil said, “Democratic Party lawmakers and officials will desert party registers to participate in the new party to be launched on May 6.”

On the afternoon of April 17, chairman Park Sang-cheon and floor leader Kim Hyo-seok from the Democratic Party met with Rep. Kim Han-gil and Rep. Lee Kang-rae from the pan-ruling party to make an agreement.

They will follow procedures in the following order: a meeting of promoters will be held and a preparation committee launched with some Democratic Party lawmakers joining this week; a negotiation body to be formed around April 20; a launching convention to be held on May 6; registering the new political party on May 7.

About 20 Democratic Party lawmakers and officials will defect and participate in the preparation committee. Both sides agreed to commence negotiations regarding practical matters such as party constitution and rules, appointments, and organizational structure, from April 19.

A total of 37 lawmakers, including 11 Democratic lawmakers, 25 ex-Uri Party lawmakers, and People First Party lawmaker Shin Guk-hwan, will participate in the new political party. It is known that some of Uri lawmakers and People First Party lawmaker Lee In-je may also join the new political party.

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