People Power Party election committee chairman Jang Dong-hyeok, co-chairman Song Eon-seok and other party leaders watch exit poll results for the June 3 local elections and by-elections at the party headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday. Photo by Asia Today
June 4 (Asia Today) -- The People Power Party performed better than expected in Wednesday's local elections, weakening calls for party leader Jang Dong-hyeok and his leadership team to take responsibility for the results.
Although opposition leaders are often pressured to resign after local election defeats, analysts said the party avoided the worst-case scenario by breaking early predictions of a near-total 15-to-1 defeat. The party defended Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, South Gyeongsang Province and Seoul, the most closely watched battleground.
The People Power Party lost many metropolitan government races but held key regions. It also performed better than expected in parliamentary by-elections. The party had been expected to consider even one seat a reasonable result in the 14 by-elections but won four, taking some seats from the Democratic Party.
Overall, the People Power Party lost metropolitan government races 12 to 4 and by-elections 9 to 4, with one independent winner. Still, many political observers said the party had done relatively well under unfavorable conditions. The Seoul victory and the by-election gains are expected to strengthen arguments for keeping Jang's leadership in place.
