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충남 논산시의회 더불어민주당(이하 민주당) 소속 의원 3명이 민주당을 탈당한 것으로 확인됐다.

논산시의회 후반기 의장에 당선된 조용훈 의원과 김종욱 운영위원장, 민병춘 행정자치위원장은 지난달 28일 민주당 충남도당에 탈당계를 제출하고 민주당을 더났다.

이들 탈당 의원들은 후반기 논산시의회 의장단 선거 과정에서 민주당에서 의장 후보로 내세운 조배식 의원을 배제하고 조용훈 의원을 의장에 당선시켰다.

결국 당론으로 결정한 의장 후보를 일부 의원들이 반기를 들면서 해당 행위를 한것으로  비춰지면서 다음 수순으로 탈당을 선택했다는 후문이다.

실제 후반기 의장선거 후 서원 의장을 비롯한 민주당 소속 의원들은 이들 3명의 의원을 제명해 줄 것을 요청했었다. 

탈당한 의원들은 "당내 싸우는 모습을 보여주지 않기 위해 탈당을 결행했다"고 밝혔다.

하지만 일부에서는 당을 등에 업고 공천을 받아 시의원에 당선된 자들이 개인의 이익을 위해 당의 결정에 따르지 않은 것은 어디를 가도 환영받지 못할 것이라는 지적이다.

*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 English translation.>

Three nonsan city council members from the Democratic Party ‘withdraw from the Democratic Party’

Reps. Cho Yong-hoon, Kim Jong-wook, and Min Byeong-chun submitted withdrawal plans from the party on the 28th of last month.

It was confirmed that three members of the Democratic Party of Korea (hereinafter referred to as the Democratic Party) of the Nonsan City Council in South Chungcheong Province left the Democratic Party.

Representative Cho Yong-hoon, who was elected as chairman of the Nonsan City Council for the second half of the year, Steering Committee Chairman Kim Jong-wook, and Administrative Autonomy Committee Chairman Byeong-chun Min submitted a notice of withdrawal to the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Party of the Democratic Party on the 28th of last month and joined the Democratic Party.

During the nonsan city council chairman election process in the second half of the year, these members of the party excluded Jo Bae-sik, who was nominated by the Democratic Party as a candidate for chairman, and elected Cho Yong-hoon as chairman.

In the end, it is said that some of the lawmakers chose to withdraw from the party as they were seen as having committed this act by rebelling against the candidate for chairman who had decided on the party line.

In fact, after the chairman election in the second half of the year, Democratic Party lawmakers, including Chairman Seowon, requested that these three lawmakers be expelled.

The lawmakers who left the party said, "We decided to leave the party to avoid being seen fighting within the party."

However, some point out that those who were nominated and elected as city council members on the backs of the party will not be welcomed anywhere if they do not follow the party's decision for personal gain.