[6·3지선] 초대 전남광주통합특별시의회, 민주당 ‘83석’ 싹쓸이…‘초거대 여당’ 출범

(브레이크뉴스 광주·전남) 이학수 기자=오는 7월 1일 공식 출범을 앞둔 ‘전남광주통합특별시’의 초대 의회가 더불어민주당 중심의 압도적인 ‘초거대 여당’ 구도로 재편됐다. 소수정당의 광역의회 진출을 돕기 위해 전국 최초로 일부 선거구에 중대선거구제가 도입됐지만, 전통적인 민주당 독주 체제를 흔들기에는 역부족이었다는 평가다.

4일 최종 개표 결과에 따르면, 전남광주통합특별시의회 전체 91석 중 더불어민주당이 무려 83석(지역구 75석, 비례대표 8석)을 싹쓸이하며 사실상 의회를 장악했다.

이어 진보당이 5석(지역구 4석, 비례 1석)을 확보해 제2정당에 올랐으며, 조국혁신당은 비례대표로만 2석, 국민의힘은 비례대표 1석을 각각 차지했다. 기본소득당과 정의당, 자유와혁신 등은 의석 배분 기준선인 정당 득표율 5%를 넘지 못해 원내 진입에 실패했다.

민주당은 지역구 선거에서 전체 79석 중 75석을 가져가며 압도적인 지배력을 과시했다. 특히 전체 지역구의 44.3%에 달하는 35개 선거구에서 민주당 후보들이 단독 출마해 투표 없이 당선을 확정 지으며 선거 초반부터 승기를 굳혔다.

주요 무투표 당선자로는 노진성(동구2), 강수훈(서구1), 심철의(서구4), 박상길(남구2), 이귀순(광산4), 최선국(목포1), 서대현(여수2), 한춘옥(순천2), 이재창(나주1), 임형석(광양1), 박준엽(담양1), 송형곤(고흥1), 류기준 (화순2) 후보 등이다.

반면 비민주당 진영에서는 진보당만이 유일하게 지역구 당선자 4명을 배출하며 체면을치레했다. 광주에서는 북구2선거구 윤민호 후보와 광산구3선거구 최경미 후보가 당선됐으며, 전남에서는 장흥1선거구 박형대 후보와 강진1선거구 강광석 후보가 치열한 경합 끝에 생환했다. 조국혁신당과 국민의힘은 지역구에서 단 한 명의 당선자도 내지 못했다.

비례대표(총 12석) 선거에서도 민주당은 70%대의 압도적인 정당 득표율을 기록하며 8석을 가져갔고, 조국혁신당이 2석, 진보당과 국민의힘이 각각 1석씩 배분받았다.

이번 선거의 최대 관심사 중 하나는 전국 최초로 광주 일부 지역(남구1, 북구1, 북구2, 광산구3)에 도입된 ‘광역의원 중대선거구제’였다. 한 선거구에서 3~4명의 의원을 선출해 소수정당의 원내 진입 장벽을 낮추겠다는 취지였다.

그러나 뚜껑을 열어본 결과 제도 도입의 효과는 제한적이었다. 3명과 4명을 각각 선출한 남구1선거구와 북구1선거구에서는 민주당 후보들이 전석을 독식했다.

다만 3인 선거구인 북구2선거구와 광산구3선거구에서는 진보당 윤민호·최경미 후보가 민주당 후보들을 제치고 당선권에 진입해 각 1석씩을 확보하는 성과를 거뒀다. 결과적으로 중대선거구제가 적용된 4곳 중 2곳은 민주당 독식, 2곳은 진보당 진출로 마무리되며 ‘절반의 성공’에 그쳤다는 분석이다.

정치권 안팎에서는 비민주당 야권 정당들이 비례대표를 포함해 총 64명의 후보를 내며 세력화를 시도했으나, 두 자릿수 의석 확보에 실패하며 뚜렷한 한계를 드러냈다고 평가한다.

특히 조국혁신당은 비례대표 2석에 그치고 지역구에서 전멸하면서 의회 내 독자적인 교섭단체 구성이 불가능해졌다. 진보당 역시 선전했으나 총 5석에 머물러 의회 내 견제와 균형을 이루기에는 수적 열세가 뚜렷하다.

이에 따라 초대 전남광주통합특별시의회의 주도권은 완전히 민주당으로 넘어가게 됐다. 당장 전남 동부권, 서부권, 광주권 등 권역별 다선 의원들을 중심으로 초대 의장 자리를 차지하기 위한 민주당 내부의 주도권 경쟁이 본격화될 전망이다. 향후 원구성 과정에서도 상임위원장 배분과 의장단 인선을 둘러싼 당내 계파 간, 지역 간 치열한 막후 조율이 이어질 것으로 보인다.

아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문] 입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도를 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다. The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the lish translation.

[June 3 Local Elections] Inaugural Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council: Democratic Party Sweeps ‘83 Seats’… Launch of ‘Mega Ruling Party’

Capturing 91.2% of the Total 91 Seats… Progressive Party 5 Seats, Cho Kuk Innovation Party 2 Seats, People Power Party 1 Seat First-Ever Introduction of ‘Multi-District Constituency System’ Shows ‘Half Success’ in Minority Party Entry

(Break News Gwangju·Jeonnam) Reporter Lee Hak-su = The inaugural council of the ‘Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City,’ set to officially launch on July 1, has been reorganized into an overwhelming ‘Mega Ruling Party’ structure centered on the Democratic Party. Although the multi-district constituency system was introduced in some districts for the first time in the nation to help minor parties enter the metropolitan council, the assessment is that it was insufficient to shake the traditional Democratic Party's dominance.

According to the final vote count results on the 4th, the Democratic Party of Korea swept a staggering 83 out of the 91 total seats in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan Council (75 constituency seats and 8 proportional representation seats), effectively seizing control of the council.

Following this, the Progressive Party secured 5 seats (4 constituency seats and 1 proportional representation seat) to become the second-largest party, while the Cho Kuk Innovation Party took 2 seats solely through proportional representation, and the People Power Party secured 1 proportional representation seat. The Basic Income Party, the Justice Party, and the Freedom & Innovation Party failed to enter the council as they did not surpass the 5% party vote threshold required for seat allocation.

The Democratic Party demonstrated overwhelming dominance in the constituency elections, taking 75 out of a total of 79 seats. Notably, Democratic Party candidates ran unopposed in 35 constituencies—accounting for 44.3% of the total—securing their election without a vote and solidifying their lead from the very beginning of the election.

According to the final vote count results on the 4th, the Democratic Party effectively seized control of the council. Major candidates elected unopposed include Noh Jin-sung (Dong-gu 2), Kang Soo-hoon (Seo-gu 1), Shim Cheol-ui (Seo-gu 4), Park Sang-gil (Nam-gu 2), Lee Gwi-soon (Gwangsan 4), Choi Seon-guk (Mokpo 1), Seo Dae-hyun (Yeosu 2), Han Chun-ok (Suncheon 2), Lee Jae-chang (Naju 1), Im Hyeong-seok (Gwangyang 1), Park Jun-yeop (Damyang 1), Song Hyeong-gon (Goheung 1), and Ryu Ki-jun (Hwasun 2).

On the other hand, within the non-Democratic Party bloc, the Progressive Party was the only one to save face by producing four district winners. In Gwangju, Yoon Min-ho was elected in Buk-gu District 2 and Choi Gyeong-mi in Gwangsan-gu District 3, while in Jeonnam, Park Hyeong-dae in Jangheung District 1 and Kang Gwang-seok in Gangjin District 1 survived after a fierce contest. The Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the People Power Party failed to produce a single district winner.

In the proportional representation election (a total of 12 seats), the Democratic Party secured 8 seats with an overwhelming party vote share in the 70% range, while the Cho Kuk Innovation Party received 2 seats, and the Progressive Party and the People Power Party each received 1 seat.

One of the biggest points of interest in this election was the "Multiple Electoral District System for Metropolitan Council Members," which was introduced for the first time in the nation in parts of Gwangju (Nam-gu 1, Buk-gu 1, Buk-gu 2, Gwangsan-gu 3). The intention was to lower the barriers to entry for minority parties into the National Assembly by electing 3 to 4 members from a single electoral district.

However, the results showed that the effectiveness of the system was limited. In Nam-gu District 1 and Buk-gu District 1, where 3 and 4 members were elected respectively, Democratic Party candidates swept all the seats.

However, in the three-member constituencies of Buk-gu District 2 and Gwangsan-gu District 3, Progressive Party candidates Yoon Min-ho and Choi Kyung-mi surpassed Democratic Party candidates to secure a winnable seat, achieving the result of winning one seat each. Consequently, analysis suggests that the results amounted to only a "half-success," as the Democratic Party dominated two of the four districts where the multi-member constituency system was applied, while the Progressive Party gained seats in the other two.

Political circles assess that non-Democratic Party opposition parties attempted to consolidate power by fielding a total of 64 candidates, including proportional representatives, but revealed clear limitations by failing to secure double-digit seats.

In particular, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party secured only two proportional representation seats and was wiped out in the constituency elections, making it impossible to form an independent negotiating group within the assembly. Although the Progressive Party performed well, it remained at a total of five seats, clearly showing a numerical disadvantage that makes it difficult to achieve checks and balances within the assembly.

As a result, the leadership of the inaugural Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council has completely shifted to the Democratic Party. An internal power struggle within the Democratic Party to secure the inaugural Speaker position is expected to intensify immediately, centered around multi-term lawmakers from regional areas such as eastern and western Jeonnam and the Gwangju region. Intense behind-the-scenes coordination between party factions and regions regarding the allocation of standing committee chairmanships and the selection of the leadership is also expected to continue during the upcoming organizational process.

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