Former President Lee Myung-bak told People Power Party floor leader Chung Point-sik that "the role of the floor is now greater than the role of the party," calling for a harder-line fight against the ruling party.
Lee made the remarks on the 31st to Chung, who visited the Cheonggye Foundation office in Seoul's Seocho district. "We should cooperate where cooperation is due, but where we must object, we should object to the end," he said. With the ruling party commanding a large majority and holding the political initiative, Lee stressed the floor leadership's role as the focal point of the opposition's fight.
"Even if those people do not hear us, if we keep our eyes on the public, we will win recognition that what the opposition is saying now is right," Lee said. "This should not be struggle for the sake of struggle. We must point out the ruling party's failings sharply and appeal to the public."
The remarks appear to reflect concern that the People Power Party has been unable to respond effectively to the ruling party's legislative push amid internal turmoil, including disciplinary disputes and clashes over the party's direction. With factional conflict over that direction blurring the focus on policy, the comments are read as an endorsement of the floor leadership serving as the center of the opposition's campaign.
After the closed-door meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes, Chung told reporters that Lee's message was to "keep our eyes on the public and fight hard against the Lee Jae-myung administration from the floor."
