South Korean Opposition Initiates Impeachment Process Against President Yoon
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World
December 4, 2024 08:10
seoul - Six South Korean opposition parties have initiated an impeachment process against President Yoon Suk-yeol. The parliament is likely to vote on Yoon's political future on Friday or Saturday.
The impeachment process follows Yoon's unexpected decision to declare a military state of emergency. The president revoked it after a parliamentary vote where there was direct opposition. Several members of the ruling PPP party, to which Yoon belongs, voted with the opposition to lift the state of emergency.
The proposal for the impeachment process comes from the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, along with five small opposition parties. It has been signed by 191 parliamentarians, none of whom are members of the ruling PPP. The Democratic Party had previously stated that the president must choose between voluntary or forced resignation.
Yoon can be impeached if a two-thirds majority of the parliament votes for his removal. His PPP currently holds 108 out of the 300 seats. The next step in the potential impeachment process lies with the constitutional court, which consists of nine judges, at least six of whom must agree to impeach Yoon for him to be removed.