Advocating Constitutional Amendment and Electoral Reform
"Three-Year Lee Jaemyung Administration Likely to Be Accepted"
Calls for Free Intra-Party Primary and End to Impeachment Rally Mobilization
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan on the 5th targeted party leader Lee Jae-myung, arguing that "if he cannot accept a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term, he should not run in an early presidential election." He urged Lee to shake off judicial risks and aim for the next term. Emphasizing a free intra-party presidential candidate primary and the restoration of a centrist-progressive party, he sharply escalated his offensive.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, Kim said, "For national unity and development, I hope he becomes a bold politician who will bravely give up about two years of his term," adding, "If he really cannot serve as a president with a three-year term shortened by two years, I recommend that he shake off all judicial risks, complete all court trials, and run in the four-year, two-term presidential election after the constitutional amendment."
He stated, "Maintaining the current presidential system with excessive powers and the two-party system, which are the causes of civil strife, while serving the full five-year term means 'not ending the civil war,'" and argued, "Even those who fear civil strife for five years are likely to accept the 'three-year Lee Jae-myung government' along with the constitutional amendment."
Kim also claimed, "If (Leader Lee) greedily insists on serving the full five-year term, it will be the beginning of another misfortune." He continued, "What would happen if Lee is elected without the Supreme Court's final ruling?" and argued, "Half of the people will shout to continue the trial, and the other half will shout to stop the trial because he is the president." He also warned of the possibility of escalating political conflict. He said, "It will be a continuation of civil war again," adding, "From the first day of his election, the streets will be covered with impeachment protests against President Lee Jae-myung, and Democratic Party politicians might have to wear bulletproof vests to go to the National Assembly."
In addition, Kim demanded election law reform, constitutional amendment, free intra-party primaries, and cessation of mobilization for impeachment rallies as ways to end civil strife and achieve national unity.
He said, "The political task after impeachment is to end the civil war and achieve national unity," adding, "We need a constitutional amendment to share the excessive presidential powers with a prime minister elected by the National Assembly and an election law reform to change the two-party system into a multi-party system." He continued, "Bringing up constitutional amendment does not mean impeachment will not happen, nor does it mean the Democratic Party will lose elections because of it," and said, "If a leader promises constitutional amendment, it shows responsibility, wins the presidential election by a large margin, and lays the foundation for stable governance."
He also advocated for a free intra-party primary in the case of an early presidential election. Kim said, "Once the primary starts, only Leader Lee's clock will run. The other candidates will not be able to properly present their visions and will soon have to play a supporting role in Lee Jae-myung's nomination rally," adding, "We must talk about a free presidential primary for regime change."
He called for stopping the mobilization of rallies supporting impeachment. He said, "Counter-protests will rather trigger civil strife," and added, "If there is any political calculation to stop constitutional amendment discussions and hide judicial risks by mobilizing righteous citizens' rallies, I hope they give it up."
Furthermore, Kim stated, "The president must be someone who can recognize and embrace diversity and differences with an organic worldview," and declared, "I will be the ladder for the people to achieve national unity and regime change."
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