South Korean opposition parties have taken a significant step forward in their bid to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office. On Wednesday, a total of 191 lawmakers from the main liberal Democratic Party and five other minor opposition parties submitted a motion to impeach the president following recent political tensions.
The motion comes after President Yoon declared an emergency martial law on Tuesday night, a decision that was swiftly reversed early Wednesday after the National Assembly voted against it. The opposition's motion aims to oust Yoon based on these actions, signaling deep political divisions within the country.
According to multiple media outlets, the opposition parties plan to present the motion to the plenary session on Thursday, with a vote scheduled to take place between Friday and Saturday. By law, the 300-member unicameral parliament must conduct a secret vote on the impeachment motion within 72 hours of its submission.
The South Korean constitution requires that at least a majority of lawmakers initiate the impeachment process, followed by approval from two-thirds of National Assembly legislators. Should over 200 lawmakers vote in favor, the motion will proceed to the constitutional court, where President Yoon would be suspended for up to 180 days during deliberations.
This impeachment attempt highlights the current political instability in South Korea and could have significant implications for the country's governance and policy direction moving forward.
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South Korean opposition parties submit motion to impeach president
cgtn.com
