'Single candidate is inevitable,' say opposition leaders

'Single candidate is inevitable,' say opposition leaders. March. 14, 2016 07:15. by 민동용기자, 황형준 mindy@donga.com,기자constant25@donga.com.

Thirty days before the general election on April 13, the opposition parties started showing their intention to have a sole candidate for each district. Kim Jong-in (photo), chairman of the Emergency Committee for the Minjoo Party, and the People's Party Co-Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo made their positions official on Sunday.

"How can the party stop that? There is no way," Kim said during an exclusive interview with the Dong-A Ilbo. "Did not I say that as the election day draws, candidates would band together with each other because they know they do not stand a chance?"

"There is nothing surprising about the opposition parties having a single candidate in each district. Our party cannot stop it," Ahn said in a phone interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, implying that he has no intention to stop the movement. Districts in the capital area where the opposition parties prevail will see candidate unification process between two parties by March 25.

However, Kim mentioned about his suggestion about merger of opposition parties made on March 2 by saying, "Merger is impossible at the moment unless Ahn makes up his mind dramatically." He also talked about the solidarity of opposition parties in the capital area suggested by the People's Party Co-Chairman Chun Chung-bae and Kim Han-gil, former head of the Election Planning Committee of the People's Party, by noting, "They are literally asking to share election districts. Sharing districts with members (of the People's Party) who are not likely to be elected at all is meaningless."

About the members that the People's Party has not released its decision, including Kim Han-gil, Joo Seung-yong, Park Jie-won, and Kim Yeong-hwan, Minjoo's interim leader said, "Nominations for them will be determined tomorrow."