The impeachment motion’s defeat is expected to worsen the already severe political chaos in South Korea.
An attempt to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol has failed in South Korea’s National Assembly, as members of his party boycotted a vote by the opposition to remove him.
This came after Tuesday’s short-lived imposition of martial law by the president, triggering nationwide protests calling for his removal.
The defeat of the impeachment motion is expected to increase public protests calling for Yoon’s removal and worsen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey showing most South Koreans support his removal.
Yoon’s martial law declaration was criticised by his own conservative party, but they oppose his impeachment, fearing they might lose the presidency to liberals.
The opposition-controlled parliament started a vote on Saturday, but only three PPP lawmakers joined the opposition. If fewer than 200 lawmakers vote, the motion will be canceled at midnight. The opposition could submit a new impeachment motion when the next session starts on Wednesday.
The opposition currently holds 192 seats in the 300-strong National Assembly and are just 8 seats shorts of the two-thirds majority required to pass motions.
Earlier on Saturday, in a televised address, the South Korean president bowed to the nation and stated he was “very sorry” just hours before lawmakers voted on his impeachment over the martial law attempt.
Yoon has pledged to face all legal consequences stating he would not seek to avoid responsibility for his decision, which he says was borne of desperation.
In an effort to reassure a nation scarred by decades of brutal martial law and military dictatorship, Yoon asserted there will be no further martial law orders.
He also announced that he’s instructed his People’s Power Party (PPP) to take all steps and decisions necessary to stabilise the political situation. Their power also includes deciding on his term in office.
Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment vote took place around 5 pm local time and was dragged out over several hours.
The likelihood of Yoon’s impeachment significantly increased after members of his own party criticised him after his abortive martial law attempt on Tuesday, with some even calling him a “great danger” to citizens.
Yoon briefly imposed a martial law order on South Korea on Tuesday, citing the need to “eliminate anti-state forces.” In his announcement, he accused the country’s opposition, the liberal Democratic Party, of sympathising with North Korea.
He reversed course only six hours later after 190 lawmakers forcibly entered the shuttered parliament to vote down the decree.
Opposition parties have called Yoon’s martial law order “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup,” and have demanded Yoon be removed from power.
If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him. If he is removed, a new election must be held within 60 days.
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