Prime Minister Han took over the role after President Yoon was impeached by parliament over his failed attempt to introduce martial law on December 3. Han was supposed to lead the country out of a political crisis, but opposition lawmakers claimed he was refusing demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment proceedings. It was chaotic in the parliament today during the voting.
Lawmakers from Yoon and Han’s ruling People’s Power (PPP) party protested after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes were needed to pass the impeachment motion.
This meant that, unlike the 200 votes needed for Yoon’s impeachment, not a single ruling party vote was needed to impeach Han this time. Representatives of the ruling party gathered in the middle of the parliament, shouting that it was an invalid abuse of power and called on the speaker of the parliament to resign. Most of them boycotted the vote.
On Thursday, the opposition tabled a motion for Han’s impeachment for the first time after he blocked the appointment of three judges selected by parliament to hear Yoon’s case. Korea’s Constitutional Court normally has nine members, and at least six judges must confirm Yoon’s impeachment for the decision to be valid. Currently, the court only has six members, meaning that one rejection would be enough to keep Yoon in office. The opposition had hoped that the three additional candidates would increase the chances of confirmation of Yoon’s impeachment.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is slated to replace Han as acting president. Khan’s dismissal is likely to add to the political deadlock and insecurity the country currently faces.
(Vijesti.ba)
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