People Power Party Adopts 'Anti-Impeachment' Party Stance
8 Seats Short of Impeachment Approval Expected
The impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol, pushed by the six opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea, was reported to the National Assembly plenary session on the 5th. The opposition plans to vote on the impeachment motion on the 6th or the 7th.
In the plenary session convened in the early morning, the impeachment motion against President Yoon, proposed the previous day by the Democratic Party, the Party for National Innovation, the Reform New Party, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party, was reported. According to the rules, the impeachment motion must be voted on between 24 hours and 72 hours after being reported to the National Assembly. The approval requirement for impeachment is at least two-thirds of the total members, which is 200 members.
The six opposition parties specified in the impeachment motion that President Yoon "issued an emergency martial law, which is null and void from the outset, violating the Constitution and laws despite not meeting any of the constitutional requirements for martial law." The Constitution and laws violated by President Yoon include a total of 15 articles, such as popular sovereignty (Article 1 of the Constitution), the principle of separation of powers, and political neutrality of military personnel and public officials (Article 5, Paragraph 2 and Article 7, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution).
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min stated, "I thought we absolutely could not overlook the unconstitutional and illegal martial law and the acts of rebellion that occurred during the process, and we could no longer allow democracy to collapse," adding, "Furthermore, I proposed this out of a sense of duty to protect the lives and safety of the people." The plenary session also reported the impeachment motion against Defense Minister Kim Kyo-hyun on the same day.
On the other hand, the People Power Party decided to oppose President Yoon's impeachment as the party line at an emergency party meeting held the previous day. People Power Party lawmakers also did not attend the plenary session that day.
Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters immediately after the party meeting, "The People Power Party has confirmed opposition to the president's impeachment motion as the party line," adding, "Once the voting date is set, we will hold a party meeting to gather consensus among the lawmakers and make a final decision." Kwak Kyu-taek, the chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, also emphasized, "We cannot accept the impeachment motion."
Opposition party members from the Democratic Party of Korea and the Joguk Innovation Party, along with citizens, are shouting slogans at the "Emergency National Rally to Urge President Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation and Impeachment Promotion," held on the steps in front of the National Assembly Main Building on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
When asked by reporters about the reasons for opposing the impeachment, Floor Leader Choo said, "I will explain later. I have conveyed it to the party leader who made the decision to oppose impeachment."
The Democratic Party immediately reacted against the People Power Party's opposition to the impeachment motion as the party line. Jo Seung-rae, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, criticized, "We deeply regret and strongly protest the People Power Party's opposition to the impeachment motion. Declaring to become an accomplice to the crime of rebellion is absolutely unacceptable." He also pointed out, "I hope the People Power Party reflects on whether the president has the ability and qualifications to properly run the country."
The outcome of the plenary vote on the presidential impeachment motion remains uncertain. According to the National Assembly Act, this motion will be voted on by secret ballot. Including the six opposition parties and two independent lawmakers who have expressed support for impeachment, there are 192 votes. If the People Power Party unanimously opposes President Yoon's impeachment as the party line, eight votes will be short of the required approval.
Chu Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is coming out after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
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