"In a Private Party Meeting, 'Participation in Impeachment Vote'
First Vote Failed Due to Lack of Quorum
More Than 8 Expected to Support Impeachment in Both Public and Private Formats"
Kwon Seong-dong, the newly appointed floor leader of the People Power Party, is reported to have proposed to party members to participate in the vote ahead of the second impeachment motion vote against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 14th. During the first impeachment vote on the 7th, the motion was automatically dismissed due to a lack of quorum, but this time it appears the ballot box can be opened.
At a closed-door party meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Kwon reportedly said, "Let's enter the plenary session and participate in the impeachment vote, based on personal opinions." However, he requested that members decide through discussion whether to change the party line from 'opposing impeachment' to 'supporting impeachment.' Currently, People Power Party members are discussing the change of party line and participation in the vote at the party meeting.
Political circles analyze that more than eight People Power Party members will publicly or privately express support for impeachment. For the impeachment motion to pass, at least two-thirds of the total members, i.e., more than 200 votes, are required. This means at least eight defections from the People Power Party are necessary. During the first impeachment vote, only three members?Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji, and Kim Sang-wook?participated in the vote, but the situation is different this time. So far, additional ruling party members who have publicly supported impeachment include Cho Kyung-tae, Kim Jae-seop, Jin Jong-oh, and Han Ji-a.
Party leader Han Dong-hoon also stated on his way to the National Assembly that day, "Today, we must all think only of the Republic of Korea and its people. I will do so as well." He also encouraged Kim Sang-wook, a party member conducting a one-person protest in front of the National Assembly main building urging support for impeachment, by handing him the muffler he was wearing. Earlier, on the 12th, immediately after reading President Yoon’s statement, Han shifted to a position supporting impeachment, saying, "I believe it has become even clearer that President Yoon can no longer perform his duties." On the night of the 12th, he also urgently ordered the convening of the party’s Ethics Committee to consider expulsion or removal of President Yoon from the party. According to the People Power Party’s constitution and regulations, disciplinary actions such as expulsion or recommendation to leave the party can be taken after the Ethics Committee’s resolution and the Supreme Council’s approval in cases of ‘extremely harmful acts to the party’ or ‘violations of current laws, party constitution, regulations, or ethics rules that hinder party development or cause public opinion to turn away.’
Within the ruling party, it is also expected that some members will cast supportive votes without publicly expressing their stance. During the first vote last week, 192 opposition members including those from the Democratic Party and 195 members including People Power Party members Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Sang-wook, and Kim Ye-ji participated. At that time, the People Power Party had confirmed a party line of 'rejection' for both President Yoon’s impeachment motion and the special investigation law on First Lady Kim Keon-hee before the plenary session. After attending the re-vote on the special investigation law for Kim Keon-hee, the People Power Party members collectively left before the impeachment vote, making the rejection of the impeachment motion certain even before the vote was held.
If the impeachment motion passes that day, President Yoon, who is the head of diplomacy, defense, and administration, will be immediately suspended from duty. Subsequently, the system will shift to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo acting as president, and the Constitutional Court will promptly begin a review process lasting up to 180 days.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
