South Korea’s Toburo Democratic Party has initiated impeachment proceedings against acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the Yonhap news agency reports.
On December 26, lawmakers submitted a draft impeachment request to the parliamentary office and presented it at a plenary session. According to the law, an impeachment vote can take place no earlier than 24 hours after the initiative is introduced at a plenary session. Yonhap notes that the vote is expected to occur on December 27.
The Toburo Party holds 170 of the 300 seats in South Korea’s National Assembly.
The opposition previously threatened to begin impeachment proceedings unless Han approved the appointment of constitutional judges by Thursday. The acting president refused to do so until the ruling and opposition factions reached a political agreement.
Earlier, the parties engaged in a dispute over the requirements for the acting president’s impeachment.
Under the constitution, removing the country’s president requires 200 out of 300 votes from lawmakers, while for other senior officials, including the prime minister, a simple majority suffices. The parties disagree on which of the rules applies to Han.
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South Korea's opposition lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach the country's prime minister and acting leader Han Duck-soo, less than two weeks after parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.
ReplyDeleteThis comes after Han refused to appoint constitutional court judges nominated by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
"Han has revealed himself to be an acting insurrectionist, not an acting president", DP's floor leader Park Chan-dae said on Thursday.
The opposition has also accused Han of aiding Yoon's martial law attempt on 3 Dec. Han earlier apologised for failing to block it.
South Korea's main opposition party said it will introduce a bill to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday and hold a vote on Friday, a move that could deepen the country's constitutional crisis triggered by a short-lived martial law.
ReplyDeleteThe opposition Democratic Party had threatened to impeach Han if he does not immediately appoint three justices to fill the vacancies at the Constitutional Court. Parliament voted in favor of three nominees on Thursday, but they have yet to be formally appointed by Han, Reuters reported.
The court is trying the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.