These days in politics, some say, "The ruling camp's so-called 'theory of centrist expansion' seems to differ from what many expected." Until now, the theory meant a political force would soften its hard-line policies to win over the center. But after the Democratic Party of Korea floated centrist expansion recently, the presidential office asked the chief justice to resubmit a Supreme Court justice nominee and announced a reshuffle pointing the justice minister toward canceling indictments, prompting talk that this was a different approach.
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, at a lawmakers' workshop on the 27th, talked about winning a structural majority through centrist expansion and using that to return to power. He said, "An election is about gaining a temporary majority, but if we push it to a structural majority, we can move toward the victory and the path to regaining power and recreating the administration that we want," adding, "We also need to expand from our traditional base to the center and conservatives." With President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings falling at the time, there were forecasts the Democratic Party would move to embrace the center.
Even so, on the 28th the presidential office asked Chief Justice Jo Hee-de to resubmit a Supreme Court justice nominee. Then on the 30th, it announced a reshuffle naming Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won as nominee for Minister of Justice. Kim is a hard-liner on prosecution reform and serves as co-chair of a Democratic Party lawmakers' group seeking to cancel indictments in cases related to President Lee. The pick for justice minister is being interpreted as a step toward pushing through indictment cancellations.
With this, some in politics said centrist expansion, the request to resubmit a Supreme Court justice nominee, and pushing through indictment cancellations point in opposite directions. There was also talk that the presidential office and the Democratic Party were on different tracks.
Among Democratic Party lawmakers, however, some say the centrist expansion method Kim Min-seok mentioned fits a "hard-line mode" rather than concession or compromise. A Democratic Party lawmaker who spoke with ChosunBiz said, "The group without a firm allegiance now is the fluid center, and they are drawn to the side that leads forcefully," adding, "The center follows the strong."
Another lawmaker said, "It would be good if President Lee went the way of President Trump," adding, "If you strip away the image of the far right, Trump's policies broke America's vested interests and succeeded in drawing in groups who had despaired of existing politics and had no hope."
Accordingly, there is growing speculation the ruling and opposition parties will clash head-on in the regular National Assembly session in September. The People Power Party has already declared an all-out campaign to block indictment cancellations, and a fierce battle is likely at the confirmation hearing for Minister nominee Kim Seung-won. A political insider said, "With the ruling party desperately needing a rebound amid falling approval ratings and the opposition needing to stamp its presence, neither side can back down."