Nationwide Candlelight Protests Erupt Against President Yoon in South Korea
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Seoul, Dec 4 (NationPress) On Wednesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to deliberate on the necessary measures following the submission of an impeachment motion by opposition parties in reaction to the recently declared, though short-lived, martial law.
Prime Minister Han, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, and floor leader Choo Kyung-ho gathered at the presidential office shortly after the opposition introduced the motion, following the earlier rejection of the martial law declaration by the National Assembly, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
A senior official from the presidential office stated, "They earnestly discussed the prevailing situation, and there was a consensus in their views," adding that the possibility of Yoon's exit from the party was not a subject of their discussions.
The primary opposition Democratic Party along with five other smaller parties plan to present the motion to a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, aiming for a vote as soon as Friday.
For the impeachment motion to be enacted, it requires a two-thirds majority in parliament. Out of the 300-member National Assembly, the opposition will need support from eight lawmakers of the PPP to pass the bill.
If the motion succeeds, the Constitutional Court will determine whether Yoon's removal from office is justified.
During the court's evaluation, the president's constitutional powers would be put on hold, with the prime minister stepping in to handle presidential duties as the second-in-command.
Despite some PPP lawmakers opposing the martial law declaration, it remains unclear if they will align with opposition parties to advocate for Yoon's impeachment.
Although Yoon has not responded to the impeachment actions led by the opposition, a senior official from the presidential office asserted that Yoon's decisions were made to "safeguard the constitutional order against factions intent on undermining" the government.
"All these actions were executed in strict accordance with the Constitution," the official conveyed to Yonhap News Agency.
