Seoul: Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will allow the People Power Party (PPP) to determine the terms and timing for unifying his independent presidential campaign with that of the party's nominee, Kim Moon-soo.
According to Yonhap News Agency, an official from Han's camp confirmed on Sunday that Han communicated his decision to entrust all unification logistics to the PPP the previous day, following Kim's selection as the party's candidate. Earlier, the PPP had announced plans to establish an intraparty organization to potentially merge presidential campaigns with Han.
PPP spokesperson Shin Dong-wook informed reporters that the conservative party would soon begin talks with Han, who declared his bid for president last Friday. On Saturday, the PPP nominated former Labor Minister Kim as its presidential candidate, a move expected to face challenges from Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung, who currently holds a significant lead in opinion polls.
Han, a seasoned technocrat, has been a preferred choice among conservatives to challenge the DP's Lee. Shin mentioned that the party would promptly initiate discussions with Han on whether to merge campaigns for the presidential vote, though no date has been set yet.
The PPP is considering various deadlines by which the merger must be finalized to maximize its chances in the June 3 election. Key dates include May 7, the deadline for the National Election Commission to order printed materials for the race; May 11, the deadline for candidate registration with the commission; and May 25, when ballot printing commences.