South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Thursday that it will push for a vote Saturday for an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol over his shocking yet short-lived imposition of martial law.
SEOUL – Cho Seung-rae, the main opposition’s senior spokesperson, said it plans to hold a vote on the motion at around 7 p.m. local time Saturday to give ruling party lawmakers enough time to deliberate over their decision on Yoon’s actions, Yonhap news agency reported.
The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, has submitted the impeachment motion with the backing of five smaller opposition parties, arguing Yoon’s martial law declaration constituted violations of the constitution and other laws.
The vote on the impeachment motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass, which would need eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to vote with opposition parties. If it passes, the Constitutional Court would then decide whether to uphold the motion, with a decision required within 180 days.
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, said at a party meeting on Thursday that the unconstitutional martial law order cannot be justified, urging Yoon to leave the party. But he pledged his party will rally efforts to block the motion’s passage to avoid confusion.
The floor leader of the People Power party Choo Kyung-ho also vowed Thursday that its lawmakers would « unite » to defeat the opposition-led impeachment motion, which would immediately suspend Yoon’s presidential duties. « President Yoon will not make any statements today, » a presidential official told reporters Thursday.
During a meeting on Wednesday with key political figures, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Yoon said there was « no wrongdoing » in the declaration of martial law and dismissed allegations of any impropriety, emphasizing that it was solely intended to prevent what he described as the Democratic Party’s « reckless impeachment actions, » local media reported.
Several high-profile cabinet ministers have expressed their intention to step down. Earlier on Thursday, Yoon accepted the resignation of his defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and nominated his ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, as a replacement, the presidential office said.
By Xinhua
