▲ ‘공익감시 민권회의’ 등 약 46개 시민단체가 ‘이재명 대표 공언 국민소환제 도입과 국민의힘 추진 개헌 관련 시민사회 입장발표 기자회견’을 개최했다. 사진 제공 우문명TV     ©

‘공익감시 민권회의’ 등 46개 시민단체가 지난 2월 12일 오전 서울 광화문광장 이순신 장군 동상 앞에서 이재명 대표 공언 국민소환제 도입과 국민의힘 추진 개헌 관련 시민사회 입장발표 기자회견을 개최했다. 이날 시민단체들은 국민발안·발의 권리보장 등 직접민주정을 확대·강화하는 개헌안을 마련해 “개헌안 찬반투표와 함께 조기대선을 함께 실시하라”고 주장했다.

이날 참석자들은 회견문을 통해 “지난 2월 10일 국회 교섭단체 대표 자격으로 이재명 민주당 대표가 연설한 내용은 정치 분야와 경제 분야 등을 망라”하고 있고, “정치 분야 관련 연설내용 가운데 중요한 하나는 ‘국민의 주권 의지가 일상적으로 국정에 반영되도록 직접민주주의를 강화’하겠다는 것”이라고 환영했다.

이어서 “이재명 대표가 스스로 강조한 것처럼 ‘민주적 공화국’의 문을 활짝 열겠다는 이 공언을 원론적으로 반대할 국민은 아무도 없지만, ‘그 첫 조치로 국회의원 국민소환제를 도입’하겠다는 각론에 들어가면 이야기가 달라질 것”이라며, “현행 국회법에 있는 징계 관련 조항과 제명 규정에 따라 의원직 제명을 청원하는 안건부터 즉각 처리하면, 국회의원 국민소환제를 도입할 필요도 없다. 국민소환제가 꼭 필요하다면, 국회의원뿐만 아니라 대통령 등 모든 고위공직자를 대상으로 설정하라”고 촉구했다.

이들 단체는 “이재명 대표가 제시한 국회의원 국민소환제와 ‘모두의 질문Q’가 아니라 국민발안·발의 권리보장부터 직접민주정을 시작하는 것이 훨씬 더 획기적일 것”이라며, “국민개헌권리보장 개헌안 찬반투표와 조기 대선 동시병행실시를 당론으로 채택하라”고 제안했다.

▲ 송운학 ‘개헌개혁 행동마당’ 상임의장(가운데)이 ‘이재명 대표 공언 국민소환제 도입과 국민의힘 추진 개헌 관련 시민사회 입장발표 기자회견’에서 발언하고 있다. 사진 제공 우문명TV     ©

이근철 ‘국민연대’ 상임대표 겸 ‘국힘해체추진행동 준비모임’ 공동대표, 류종열 (사)‘DMZ 평화네트워크’ 이사장 겸 ‘국가혁신개헌 국민운동본부’ 상임공동대표, 노세극 ‘직접민주주의연대’ 공동대표, 임양길 ‘개혁연대 민생행동’ 공동대표(내정자) 겸 ‘촛불계승연대천만행동’ 상임운영위원, 윤영대 ‘투기자본감시센터’ 공동대표, 윤인희 ‘고질적 난제 연구소’ 소장 등이 주관단체 대표 자격으로 회견문을 차례차례 낭독했다.

송운학 ‘개헌개혁 행동마당’ 상임의장은 이날 인사말에서 “우리나라 헌정질서를 심각한 위기에 빠뜨리고 있는 국힘 소속 의원들을 국회법에 따라 제명하지 못한다면, 직접민주정을 도입해 확대·강화하기는커녕 대의제와 관료제 및 적대적 공존 관계에 있는 거대양당제 등을 특징으로 하는 민주체제 그 자체가 무너져 내릴 것”이라며, “이재명 대표가 공언한 것처럼 직접민주정이 확대·강화된다면, 그동안 우리 국민이 겪었던 헌정질서와 크게 다른 국가체계가 가동될 것이다. 국민소환대상을 대통령 등 모든 고위공직자로 확대할 때 우리 주권자 국민은 가슴을 졸여가며 대통령 탄핵소추를 의결하라고 촉구할 일도 없고, 헌법재판소 심리가 엉뚱한 결론을 내리지 않도록 매서운 겨울한파에 밤새워 감시할 필요도 없게 될 것”이라고 강조했다.

아래는 위 기사를 ‘Google 번역’으로 번역한 영문 기사의 ‘전문’이다. ‘Google 번역’은 이해도를 높이기 위해 노력하고 있다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 한다. <*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by ‘Google Translate’ and amended. ‘Google Translate’ is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>

“Hold a vote on the constitutional amendment and an early presidential election together!”

46 civic groups hold a press conference on the introduction of a national recall system as announced by Representative Lee Jae-myung and the constitutional amendment promoted by the People Power Party

On the morning of February 12, 46 civic groups including the ‘Public Interest Watch Civil Rights Conference’ held a press conference in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to announce the civil society’s position on the introduction of a national recall system as announced by Representative Lee Jae-myung and the constitutional amendment promoted by the People Power Party. On that day, the civic groups prepared a constitutional amendment bill that expands and strengthens direct democracy, such as guaranteeing the right to propose and propose by the people, and argued that “hold a vote on the constitutional amendment and an early presidential election together.”

The attendees welcomed the speech, saying in a press release that “the content of the speech given by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on February 10th as the representative of the National Assembly negotiation group covered the fields of politics and economy,” and that “one of the important contents of the speech related to politics was ‘strengthening direct democracy so that the sovereign will of the people is reflected in state affairs on a daily basis.’” They continued, “As Representative Lee Jae-myung himself emphasized, no citizen would oppose this pledge to open the door to a ‘democratic republic’ in principle, but the story would be different if we go into the specifics of ‘introducing a national recall system for members of the National Assembly as the first measure,’” and urged, “If we immediately process the agenda requesting the expulsion of members of the National Assembly according to the disciplinary provisions and expulsion regulations of the current National Assembly Act, there would be no need to introduce a national recall system for members of the National Assembly. If a national recall system is absolutely necessary, it should be applied to all high-ranking public officials, including the president, as well as members of the National Assembly.” These groups said, “It would be much more groundbreaking to start direct democracy by guaranteeing the right to propose and propose a constitutional amendment for the people, rather than the recall system for members of the National Assembly and the ‘Questions from Everyone’ proposed by Representative Lee Jae-myung,” and proposed, “Adopt the simultaneous implementation of a vote for or against a constitutional amendment bill guaranteeing the right to a constitutional amendment and an early presidential election as a party platform.” Representatives of the organizations reading the press releases included Lee Geun-cheol, standing representative of the ‘People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy’ and co-chairman of the ‘Preparatory Committee for the Action to Promote the Dissolution of the People’s Power Party,’ Ryu Jong-yeol, chairman of the ‘DMZ Peace Network’ and standing co-chairman of the ‘National Innovation and Constitutional Amendment National Movement Headquarters,’ Noh Se-geuk, co-chairman of the ‘Direct Democracy Solidarity,’ Lim Yang-gil, co-chairman (appointee) of the ‘Reform Solidarity for People’s Livelihood Action,’ and standing operating committee member of the ‘Candlelight Succession Solidarity 10 Million Action,’ Yoon Young-dae, co-chairman of the ‘Speculative Capital Monitoring Center,’ and Yoon In-hee, director of the ‘Chronic Difficult Problem Research Institute.’

Song Woon-hak, standing chairman of the ‘Constitutional Reform Action Group’, emphasized in his opening remarks that day, “If we fail to expel the People Power Party members who are putting our country’s constitutional order in serious jeopardy in accordance with the National Assembly Act, the democratic system itself, characterized by representative democracy, bureaucracy, and a hostile coexistence with a large two-party system, will collapse, rather than introducing and expanding direct democracy.” He added, “If direct democracy is expanded and strengthened as Representative Lee Jae-myung has pledged, a national system that is significantly different from the constitutional order our people have experienced so far will be put into operation. When the subjects of the national recall are expanded to include all high-ranking public officials, including the president, our sovereign citizens will not have to urge the impeachment of the president with a heavy heart, and they will not have to stay up all night in the bitter cold of winter to ensure that the Constitutional Court does not reach an absurd conclusion.”