President Lee Urges Ruling Party to End Infighting Amidst Falling Polls

President Lee Jae-myung on Monday sharply criticized the internal strife within his own Democratic Party, urging members to stop fighting "like enemies" as they prepare for an August party convention. The president's remarks came during a press briefing on his European tour results, where he directly addressed the escalating tensions within the ruling party.

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Why should we compete like we are at war, not just among people within the same camp?

Lee expressed concern that the intense competition within the party, especially after the June local elections, was contributing to a drop in public approval for his administration. "What is the point of fighting amongst yourselves when people are struggling to make ends meet?" he questioned, suggesting that the public sees little connection between the party's internal battles and their own lives or the government's public duties.

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What is the point of fighting amongst yourselves when people are struggling to make ends meet? What does your fight have to do with our lives or the public duties we were entrusted with?

The president's comments are seen as a direct response to the ongoing disputes, which have seen prominent party figures clash publicly and supporters engage in heated online exchanges. Lee specifically pointed to the controversy surrounding the potential abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers, a move championed by party leader Chung Sye-kyun but met with reservations from the president's office. Lee suggested that the issue had become a "polluted topic" used for political slogans, and that the government should not be involved in such politically charged debates.

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This (discussion of supplementary investigation powers) is a polluted topic. It is being used as a political slogan. It is not desirable for us to be involved.

Lee's remarks also touched upon the role of the ruling party, stating that a governing party should not solely gather those who agree with it. He implied that the party's current approach, focusing on consolidating support among a specific faction, was detrimental. This echoes his previous statements about the need for the ruling party to represent a broader spectrum of public opinion, contrasting it with the strategies of smaller opposition parties that rely on strong rhetoric to mobilize their base.

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A minority party must speak strongly and rally its supporters to survive, but it is different when you become the majority ruling party.