President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Democratic Party chair Rep, Jung Chung-rae (Yonhap) A rift within the ruling bloc appear to be widening ahead of the party's leadership primary that is expected in August.At the center of attention is whether Rep. Jung Chung-rae, the beleaguered party chair, will seek to extend his term that kicked off in August 2025, with pressure mounting following his recent remarks that no administration would outlive its people.President Lee Jae Myung, who is currently on a state visit to Italy and the Vatican, said in an X post that now is not the right time for the ruling party to take a confrontational stance in the pursuit of the political ideal."The ruling party's passion must be directed at the entire nation, not 'our bloc,'" Lee said, urging the ruling party to "mediate conflicts and minimize trouble within the liberal bloc" instead of instigating "confrontation and exclusion.""If we are to use our true strength, I would prefer to act like a vast ocean that embraces and purifies everything, instead of a torrent that sweeps everything away."An aide of Jung downplayed the notion of conflict between Lee and Jung unfolding.Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party, told reporters in a press conference Sunday that Lee's remarks were not intended to single out Jung, adding his remarks "must have a broader implication," and therefore speculation that Jung was being targeted in the post would "distort the president's will.""If the president's will is misinterpreted as such, that itself actually narrows the president's vision," Jo said. Democratic Party Rep. Jo Seoung-lae (left) speaks in a press conference on Sunday. (Yonhap) Lee's remarks followed Cheong Wa Dae's extraordinary decision to have Jung and ruling party Floor Leader Rep. Han Byung-do excluded from a group of officials accompanying Lee as he boarded Air Force One. Instead, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, another potential contender for the Democratic Party chairship in the upcoming primary alongside Jung, was present.According to Cheong Wa Dae, the decision was meant to downsize the group of officials "due to grave situations" at home and abroad, urging the media to refrain from overinterpretation.Before Lee's departure for Europe, Lee said in a news conference at Cheong Wa Dae to mark the beginning of his second year in office that the local elections' outcome in early June should "not be perceived as a success," which contrasted from Jung's assessment Thursday that it was successful.Meanwhile, Jung has been at odds with fellow liberal lawmakers amid their calls for adjustment in his push to grant dues-paying party members the same voting rights as party delegates in the August primary.One of the lawmakers, Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, said Friday that Jung was "triggering a division within the party," as Jung unveiled the name of lawmakers, including Jeon, who had called for adjustment.