SEOUL (Reuters) – A South Korean presidential candidate dropped out on Thursday, throwing his assist to conservative Yoon Suk-yeol in a shock transfer that would tip the stability of subsequent week’s carefully fought election towards the conservatives.
Yoon, flag bearer of the People Power Party, the primary opposition to the governing liberal social gathering, joined with Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Party, who had been operating a distant third.
“We firmly imagine that at this time’s announcement would realise an ideal authorities change,” Yoon and Ahn stated in a joint assertion issued at a information convention asserting the merger.
The shake-up lower than per week earlier than Wednesday’s election is dangerous information for Lee Jae-myung, representing President Moon Jae-in’s Democratic Party. Moon is barred by time period limits from searching for reelection.
A survey by Realmeter launched on Wednesday, the final day for publication of polls beneath election guidelines, confirmed 46.3% of respondents favoured Yoon, with 43.1% preferring Lee.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by William Mallard)
