더불어민주당 정청래 전 대표가 8·17 전당대회를 앞두고 연임 도전 수순에 들어가면서 잠재적인 차기 당권 주자들의 당심 구애 경쟁이 가열되고 있다.

대표직에서 사퇴한 정청래 전 대표가 이슈로는 정통성과 선명한 개혁성을 부각하는 동시에 지역적으로는 호남 공략에 집중적으로 나서자 김민석 국무총리와 송영길 전 대표 역시 '출격' 채비를 서두르면서 당권 레이스가 달아오르는 모습이다.

특히 애초 김 총리의 이른바 '페이스 메이커'일 수 있단 관측이 나오던 송 전 대표의 완주 가능성까지 제기되면서 전면적인 계파·노선 경쟁이 벌어질 조짐을 보이자 당내에서는 우려도 나오고 있다.

◇ 鄭·金, 나란히 호남 출격…宋, 방미 직후 호남 방문

정 전 대표는 25일 오후 전북 정읍에서 열리는 전북도당 당선인 워크숍에 참석할 예정이다.

김 총리 역시 이 행사에 참석하는 일정을 검토하는 것으로 알려졌다.

김 총리는 마지막 해외 일정인 중국 방문을 마치고 이르면 이달 말 여의도 복귀를 앞두고 있다.

방미 중인 송 전 대표는 귀국 직후인 28일 전북 전주에서 타운홀 미팅을 열고 전당대회 출마에 관한 입장을 밝힐 것으로 관측된다.

정 전 대표는 대표직 사퇴 전날인 지난 23일에도 광주와 전남 목포·화순을 훑었고, 김 총리와 송 전 대표 역시 지난 16일 전남 보성에서 열린 전남광주 당선인 워크숍에 나란히 참석한 바 있다.

호남은 민주당 정체성의 근간을 이루는 '오월정신'의 본거지이자 권리당원 약 30%가 밀집한 '텃밭'이다. 이번 전대의 승부를 가를 최대 변수 역시 호남 민심의 향배라는 분석이 많다.

따라서 주자들로선 이곳 표심을 선점하는 것이 승리의 관건이 될 것이란 관측이 대체적이다.

◇ 정통성·선명성으로 치고 나가는 鄭…金·宋측은 '명청 갈등' 부각 기류

전대를 앞두고 당심 공략을 위한 메시지 경쟁도 더욱 고조되는 모습이다.

대표직을 내려놓고 몸이 가벼워진 정 대표는 SNS에 잇따라 글을 올리며 여론전에 속도를 내고 있다.

그는 페이스북에 "김대중-노무현-문재인-이재명 대통령을 배출한 자랑스러운 민주당의 역사를 지키겠다"며 "민주당 DNA, 민주당 정체성을 확고히 사수하겠다"고 적었다.

이어 "보완수사권 전면 폐지. 지금 당장!"이라고 쓴 뒤 "그러려면 형사소송법 정부안 즉각 국회 제출, 법사위원장 사수 및 원 구성 표결, 제헌절 이전 본회의 통과, 10월 공소청, 중대범죄수사청(중수청) 출범" 등 개혁 절차를 나열했다.

정 대표의 이런 메시지는 자신이 정통 후보이며 개혁 이슈에 가장 잘 대응할 수 있는 후보라는 점을 강조하기 위한 차원이다.

정 대표가 정통성을 반복적으로 부각하는 것은 과거 탈당 이력이 있는 김 총리와 차별화하기 위한 것으로 보인다.

나아가 개혁 이슈를 함께 거론하는 건 민주당 선거에 상당한 영향력을 행사하고 있는 강성 지지층을 겨냥한 것이다.

반면 김 총리와 송 전 대표 등 반정청래 진영에서는 '개혁 이슈는 더이상 이슈가 안된다'는 입장이다.

이미 검찰 개혁이 진행돼 완수를 앞둔 데다 이른바 보완수사권 폐지에 대해서도 당내에서는 사실상 반대가 없다는 게 그 이유다.

이들은 정통성 문제에 대해서는 정 전 대표 재임 때 벌어진 당청 갈등에 주목하고 있다.

차기 당 대표의 핵심 역할인 국정 뒷받침이란 측면에서 정 전 대표는 이른바 '자기 정치'를 하면서 이 대통령과 차별화할 수 있다면서 이재명 대통령 지지자들을 공략하고 있는 것이다.

이런 가운데 송 전 대표의 경우 출마시 김 총리와 연대하기보다는 완주하는 쪽으로 기류가 변화하는 모습이다.

송 전 대표와 가까운 한 다선 의원은 "이번에는 결선투표가 있기 때문에 그전에 후보 단일화는 없을 것"이라고 말했다.

◇ 당내서는 '충돌 비화' 우려 남아…"분열 극복해야" 목소리 잇따라

당내에선 이번 전대가 경쟁을 넘어 극한의 계파 충돌로 비화할 수 있다는 우려가 없지 않다.

벌써 당원들 사이에선 거센 표현으로 상대를 공격하는 과열 양상이 나타나고 있다.

한병도 대표 직무대행 겸 원내대표는 이날 정책조정회의에서 "우리가 경쟁하는 이유는 서로를 쓰러뜨리기 위해서가 아니라 더 단단한 하나가 되기 위함"이라며 "경쟁의 끝에서 우리는 반드시 원팀으로 만나야 한다"고 강조했다.

그러면서 "이번 전대는 누가 이기느냐의 싸움이 아니라 민주당이 국민 앞에서 책임 있는 집권당임을 증명하는 자리"라고 말했다.

우원식 전 국회의장 역시 CBS 라디오 인터뷰에서 "당내 갈등이 너무 심각하다"며 "한 번도 들어보지 못한 멸칭을 쓰는 것을 보고 이 분열을 극복하지 않고선 안 되겠다(고 생각했다)"고 말했다.

이어 "(갈등 양상이 이전과) 차원이 다르다"며 "국민들이 듣기에 얼마나 부끄럽나"라고 언급했다.

우 전 의장은 각 주자에게도 쓴소리했다.

그는 정 전 대표가 조속한 보완수사권 폐지를 주장하는 데 대해 "대통령은 이견이 있으니 국회에서 논의해달라고 한 게 아니냐"며 "그런데 당 대표는 즉각 전면 폐지를 말하면서 '나는 대통령을 지킨다'라고 한다. 그건 (지키는 것이라기보다) 전면 대립으로 보인다"고 지적했다.

또한 김 총리와 송 전 대표를 향해선 "메시지에 뭐(내용)가 없다"며 "어려워지는 중소기업 문제, 비정규직 문제, 자영업자, 청년 문제를 의제로 삼아야 하는데 누구도 그런 문제를 의제로 삼고 있지 않다"고 꼬집었다.

hrseo@yna.co.kr

Mantan Ketua Partai Demokratis Menyejahterakan Jung Chung-rae memasuki urutan tantangan reeleksi menjelang konferensi partai 8·17, dan persaingan untuk memenangkan hati partai di antara calon kepemimpinan partai potensial berikutnya semakin meningkat.

Sementara mantan Ketua Jung, yang mundur dari jabatan ketua, menekankan legitimasi dan reformasi yang jelas sebagai isu sambil secara aktif berupaya merebut Honam secara regional, Perdana Menteri Kim Min-seok dan mantan Ketua Song Young-gil juga terburu-buru mempersiapkan untuk 'beraksi', dan balapan kepemimpinan partai semakin memanas.

Khususnya, seiring dengan meningkatnya kemungkinan mantan Ketua Song menyelesaikan pertandingan, yang awalnya dianggap sebagai 'pembuat wajah' Perdana Menteri Kim, menunjukkan tanda-tanda terjadinya persaingan faksional dan garis yang komprehensif, kekhawatiran juga muncul di dalam partai.

◇ Jung dan Kim berangkat ke Honam bersama... Song mengunjungi Honam setelah kunjungan ke Amerika

Mantan Ketua Jung direncanakan untuk menghadiri lokakarya pemenang pemilu Partai Provinsi Jeonbuk yang diadakan di Jeongeup, Jeonbuk pada sore hari tanggal 25.

Perdana Menteri Kim juga dilaporkan sedang mempertimbangkan untuk hadir di acara ini.

Perdana Menteri Kim menyelesaikan kunjungan ke China, jadwal luar negeri terakhirnya, dan akan kembali ke Yeouido paling cepat akhir bulan ini.

Mantan Ketua Song, yang sedang berkunjung ke Amerika, diperkirakan akan mengadakan pertemuan town hall di Jeonju, Jeonbuk pada tanggal 28 segera setelah kembali ke negara itu dan menyatakan posisinya tentang partisipasi dalam konferensi partai.

Mantan Ketua Jung juga mengunjungi Gwangju dan Mokpo, Hwasun di Jeollanam-do pada tanggal 23, sehari sebelum mundur dari jabatan ketua, dan Perdana Menteri Kim dan mantan Ketua Song juga menghadiri lokakarya pemenang pemilu Jeollanam-Gwangju yang diadakan di Boseong, Jeollanam-do pada tanggal 16.

Honam adalah tempat basis 'semangat Mei' yang membentuk dasar identitas Partai Demokratis dan 'wilayah tradisional' di mana sekitar 30% anggota partai dengan hak pilih terpusat. Banyak analisis menunjukkan bahwa variabel terbesar yang akan menentukan hasil konferensi partai ini adalah arah sentimen publik Honam.

Oleh karena itu, pengamatan umum adalah bahwa bagi para kandidat, menguasai sentimen pemilih di sini akan menjadi kunci kesuksesan.

◇ Jung bergerak maju dengan legitimasi dan kejelasan... Pihak Kim dan Song menekankan 'konflik antara pemerintah dan partai'

Sebelum konferensi partai, persaingan pesan untuk memenangkan hati partai juga semakin meningkat.

Mantan Ketua Jung, yang telah melepaskan posisi ketua dan merasa lebih ringan, terus memposting di media sosial dan mempercepat pertempuran opini publik.

Dia menulis di Facebook, "Saya akan menjaga sejarah Partai Demokratis yang bangga telah menghasilkan Presiden Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, dan Lee Jae-myung" dan "Saya akan dengan tegas menjaga DNA Partai Demokratis dan identitas Partai Demokratis."

Kemudian dia menulis "Pembatalan lengkap hak penyelidikan pelengkap. Sekarang juga!" dan menjabarkan prosedur reformasi termasuk "pengajuan draft Kode Acara Pidana pemerintah ke Majelis Nasional segera, pertahanan ketua Komisi Hukum dan Keadilan serta pemungutan suara komposisi Majelis, persetujuan sidang pleno sebelum Hari Konstitusi, pengadilan banding Oktober, dan peluncuran Badan Investigasi Kejahatan Serius."

Pesan Ketua Jung ini dimaksudkan untuk menekankan bahwa dia adalah kandidat yang sah dan dapat paling baik mengatasi isu-isu reformasi.

Tampaknya Ketua Jung berulang kali menekankan legitimasi untuk membedakan dirinya dari Perdana Menteri Kim, yang memiliki riwayat keluar dari partai di masa lalu.

Selanjutnya, berbicara tentang masalah reformasi sekaligus menargetkan pendukung hardcore yang memiliki pengaruh yang cukup besar dalam pemilihan Partai Demokratis.

Sebaliknya, Perdana Menteri Kim dan mantan Ketua Song serta kelompok anti-Jung menganggap bahwa 'isu reformasi bukan lagi masalah.'

Alasannya adalah bahwa reformasi kejaksaan sudah berlangsung dan akan segera selesai, dan tidak ada keberatan yang berarti di dalam partai terhadap pembatalan hak penyelidikan pelengkap.

Mereka fokus pada konflik antara partai dan pemerintah yang terjadi selama masa kepemimpinan mantan Ketua Jung untuk mengatasi masalah legitimasi.

Dalam hal mendukung kebijakan pemerintah, peran inti ketua partai berikutnya, mantan Ketua Jung sedang menargetkan pendukung Presiden Lee Jae-myung sambil mengatakan dia dapat membedakan dirinya dari Presiden dengan melakukan 'politiknya sendiri'.

Dalam hal ini, untuk mantan Ketua Song, aliran tampaknya berubah kearah menyelesaikan pertandingan daripada bersatu dengan Perdana Menteri Kim jika mencalonkan diri.

Seorang anggota berpengalaman dekat dengan mantan Ketua Song mengatakan, "Karena ada pemungutan suara putaran kedua kali ini, tidak akan ada penyatuan kandidat sebelumnya."

◇ Dalam partai tetap ada kekhawatiran tentang 'eskalasi konflik'... suara 'harus mengatasi perpecahan' terus terdengar

Dalam partai, ada kekhawatiran bahwa konferensi partai ini dapat berkembang menjadi konflik faksional yang ekstrem melampaui persaingan.

Sudah ada tanda-tanda pemanasan di antara anggota partai dengan saling menyerang menggunakan bahasa yang kasar.

Han Byung-do, penjabat ketua dan ketua kelompok partai di majelis, menekankan dalam pertemuan koordinasi kebijakan hari ini, "Alasan kami berkompetisi bukan untuk saling mengalahkan tetapi untuk menjadi satu yang lebih kokoh" dan "Di akhir kompetisi, kita harus bertemu sebagai satu tim."

Sambil berkata, "Konferensi partai ini bukan tentang siapa yang menang tetapi tempat untuk membuktikan bahwa Partai Demokratis adalah partai yang berkuasa secara bertanggung jawab di hadapan publik."

Mantan Ketua Majelis Nasional Woo Won-shik juga mengatakan dalam wawancara radio CBS, "Konflik dalam partai terlalu serius" dan "Melihat penggunaan istilah penghinaan yang tidak pernah saya dengar sebelumnya, saya berpikir kita harus mengatasi perpecahan ini."

Dia melanjutkan, "(bentuk konflik) berbeda dimensinya (dari sebelumnya)" dan "betapa malunya bagi publik untuk mendengarnya."

Mantan Ketua Woo juga memberikan kritik tajam kepada setiap kandidat.

Dia menunjukkan bahwa tentang mantan Ketua Jung mengadvokasi pembatalan cepat hak penyelidikan pelengkap, "bukankah Presiden mengatakan ada perbedaan pendapat jadi silakan diskusikan di Majelis Nasional?" dan "tetapi ketua partai mengatakan pembatalan penuh segera sambil mengatakan 'saya melindungi Presiden.' Itu tampak seperti konfrontasi penuh (daripada perlindungan)."

Juga tertuju pada Perdana Menteri Kim dan mantan Ketua Song, "tidak ada apa-apa (konten) dalam pesan mereka," dan "masalah usaha kecil dan menengah yang semakin sulit, masalah pekerja kontrak, pemilik usaha kecil, masalah pemuda harus dijadikan agenda, tetapi tidak ada yang menganggap masalah-masalah tersebut sebagai agenda."

hrseo@yna.co.kr

As former Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae steps into a bid for re-election ahead of the August 17 party convention, potential next-generation leadership candidates are intensifying their competition for party members' support.

As former Chairman Jung, who stepped down from his position, emphasizes legitimacy and clear reformist credentials while concentrating on courting the Honam region, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former Chairman Song Young-gil are also rushing to prepare for 'deployment,' with the party leadership race heating up.

In particular, as the possibility of former Chairman Song completing the race is being raised—despite earlier speculation that he could be Prime Minister Kim's so-called 'pace-maker'—there are growing concerns within the party as signs emerge of full-scale factional and ideological competition.

◇ Jung and Kim to launch Honam strategy together...Song to visit Honam right after US trip

Former Chairman Jung is scheduled to attend the Jeollabuk-do party elected representatives workshop held in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do on the afternoon of the 25th.

Prime Minister Kim is also known to be reviewing his schedule to attend this event.

Prime Minister Kim is finishing up his final overseas schedule—a visit to China—and is expected to return to Yeouido as early as the end of this month.

Former Chairman Song, currently on a US visit, is expected to hold a town hall meeting in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do on the 28th right after his return and announce his position on running in the party convention.

Former Chairman Jung visited Gwangju and Mokpo and Hwasun in South Jeolla on the 23rd, the day before resigning as chairman. Prime Minister Kim and former Chairman Song also jointly attended the South Jeolla and Gwangju elected representatives workshop held in Boseong, South Jeolla on the 16th.

Honam is the birthplace of the 'May Spirit' that forms the foundation of the Democratic Party's identity and a 'stronghold' where about 30% of voting members are concentrated. Many analysts view the direction of Honam public sentiment as the biggest variable that will determine the outcome of this party convention.

Therefore, the general view is that securing this region's support will be key to victory for the candidates.

◇ Jung pressing forward with legitimacy and clarity...Kim and Song camps highlighting government-party conflicts

Ahead of the party convention, the competition in messaging to win over party members is intensifying further.

Freed from his position as chairman, former Chairman Jung is accelerating his public opinion campaign by posting repeatedly on social media.

On Facebook, he wrote, "I will protect the proud history of the Democratic Party, which has produced Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung," and "I will firmly safeguard the DNA of the Democratic Party and its identity."

He then wrote, "Complete abolition of supplementary investigative rights. Right now!" and listed reform procedures including "immediate submission of the government's Criminal Procedure Act to the National Assembly, securing the chair of the Judiciary Committee and floor votes on parliamentary composition, passage in plenary before Constitution Day, October public prosecutors office, and launching of the Major Crimes Investigation Office (MCIO)."

Former Chairman Jung's message emphasizes that he is the legitimate candidate and can best respond to reform issues.

Former Chairman Jung's repeated emphasis on legitimacy appears to be an attempt to differentiate himself from Prime Minister Kim, who has a history of party defection in the past.

Furthermore, discussing reform issues together appears aimed at targeting the hardcore supporters who exert considerable influence in Democratic Party elections.

In contrast, the anti-Jung camp, including Prime Minister Kim and former Chairman Song, maintains that "reform issues are no longer an issue."

The reason is that prosecutorial reform is already underway and nearing completion, and there is essentially no opposition within the party to the abolition of supplementary investigative rights.

Regarding the legitimacy issue, they are focusing on the party-government conflict that occurred during former Chairman Jung's tenure.

From the perspective of the next party chairman's core role of supporting state affairs, they are targeting supporters of President Lee Jae-myung by arguing that former Chairman Jung engages in so-called "self-serving politics" while claiming to support the president differently.

Meanwhile, regarding former Chairman Song, the current trend suggests he would pursue completing the race rather than joining forces with Prime Minister Kim if he decides to run.

A multi-term lawmaker close to former Chairman Song said, "This time there will be a runoff vote, so there won't be candidate consolidation before then."

◇ Concerns within party about "conflict escalating"...voices calling for "overcoming division" follow

There are concerns within the party that this party convention could escalate beyond competition into extreme factional conflict.

Already, an overheated atmosphere is appearing among party members, with harsh language being used to attack opponents.

Acting Chairman and floor leader Han Byung-do emphasized at a policy coordination meeting that day, "The reason we compete is not to bring each other down but to become one stronger unit," and "At the end of the competition, we must surely come together as one team."

He added, "This party convention is not a fight about who wins, but a venue for proving that the Democratic Party is a responsible ruling party before the nation."

Former National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also said in a CBS Radio interview, "The conflict within the party is too serious," and "Seeing derogatory terms I've never heard before being used, I think we must overcome this division."

He further noted, "The nature of the conflict is different (from before)," and "How shameful it must sound to the public."

Former Speaker Woo had harsh words for each candidate.

Regarding former Chairman Jung's call for swift abolition of supplementary investigative rights, he said, "Didn't the President say to discuss it in the National Assembly because there are differences of opinion?" and pointed out, "But the party chairman speaks of immediate complete abolition while saying 'I protect the president.' That looks like (rather than protecting) outright confrontation."

Toward Prime Minister Kim and former Chairman Song, he criticized, "There's no substance to their messages," and pointed out, "The problems of struggling small and medium-sized enterprises, non-regular workers, the self-employed, and youth should be on the agenda, but no one is addressing those issues."

hrseo@yna.co.kr