South Korea’s opposition files second motion to impeach Yoon
The opposition requires at least eight ruling party votes to pass the motion. So far, seven members have hinted that they would support it
SOUTH Korea’s opposition filed a second impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday (Dec 12), with the likelihood of its passage increasing as more ruling party members indicate they will support it.
The motion was filed after Yoon made a defiant speech earlier in the day in which he tried to justify his shock martial law declaration last week and insisted he would fight any case against him.
“I strongly urge members of the ruling People Power Party to avoid being on the wrong side of history and to join the vote for passing the impeachment,” lawmaker Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party told reporters after submitting the motion together with members of five other opposition parties.
The opposition needs to secure 200 votes in parliament to pass the motion. An attempt to impeach Yoon last Saturday failed to reach that threshold after his party boycotted the vote.
The won was largely unchanged after the widely expected filing, down 0.2 per cent against the dollar.
The opposition requires at least eight ruling party votes to pass the motion. So far, seven members have hinted that they would support moves to impeach Yoon.
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In another indication that the vote has more chance of success this time round, ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon earlier in the day described impeachment as the only way to remove Yoon.
After Yoon’s speech, Han called on PPP members to proceed swiftly to suspend the president. His comments drew some jeers from members in an indication that opinions still diverge within the ruling party. Han is not a lawmaker and can’t vote for the impeachment motion.
The president is fighting to stay in his role after his brief declaration of martial law last week stunned the nation and its allies. The shock move sparked political chaos, spooked financial markets and fuelled public outrage.
Following the submission of the motion, it will be reported to parliament and at that point a 72-hour limit will be set for holding the vote. The ballot is expected to take place on Saturday.
A successful motion would result in a Constitutional Court case lasting up to 180 days. If the court rules against Yoon, he would be forced out of office and a presidential election called within two months.
Yoon said earlier in the day that he would fight until the last minute to defend himself over the declaration of martial law after accusing the opposition of trying to paralyse his administration.
The embattled president said the purpose of imposing martial law last week was to save the country, protect “free democracy” and normalise state functions. Speaking in a televised address, he said the move was aimed at sending a warning to the opposition by letting the public know about their “anti-state” moves and their sympathies for North Korea.
In addition to the possibility of impeachment, he’s also facing investigation and has been banned from travelling overseas. The police went to Yoon’s office for a second straight day in the search for evidence relating to the events surrounding his martial law declaration. His former defence minister has been arrested.
The opposition-led parliament already passed motions to impeach the country’s justice minister and police chief over their alleged involvement in the martial law declaration earlier on Thursday, motions that had a lower threshold than action against the president. The opposition also pushed through Bills to appoint special counsels to look into the martial law declaration and allegations surrounding the first lady.
“Whether they impeach me or investigate me, I will face them down with confidence,” Yoon said. “I will fight until the end.”
Yoon’s speech appeared aimed at justifying his brief declaration of martial law. But the president’s bid to turn public sentiment against the opposition may fail to gain traction with members of his own party turning on him. BLOOMBERG
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