South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to survive an impeachment vote against him after ruling party lawmakers boycotted parliament on Saturday (7).
Several lawmakers left the session ahead of the vote to impeach President Yoon for his decision to impose Martial Law earlier this week. Only two lawmakers from Yoon’s party remained in the session.
At least 200 parliamentarians are needed for the vote to be approved. Outside the main hall, opposition lawmakers could be heard shouting “Enter [na câmara]!” and calling them “cowards”.
Voting is underway, but the numbers counted are unlikely to be enough for the motion to pass. Less than two-thirds of parliament now remains in the chamber.
If, as expected, the vote fails, the next available date for lawmakers to vote on Yoon’s impeachment is Wednesday (11).
Hours before the vote, Yoon apologized to the nation, in his first public comments since his failed attempt to impose Martial Law threw the country into political chaos and led to calls for his impeachment.
“This emergency declaration of Martial Law resulted from my desperation as the party ultimately responsible for state affairs,” Yoon said in a two-minute speech.
“I deeply regret and sincerely apologize to the citizens who must have been very shocked,” Yoon said, acknowledging that he “caused anxiety and inconvenience” to South Korean citizens.
Yoon said he “will not avoid legal and political responsibility related to this declaration of martial law.”
The furore began on Tuesday when Yoon declared martial law in a surprise televised speech, accusing the main opposition party of sympathizing with North Korea and “anti-state activities”. He cited a motion by the Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, to remove top prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal.
However, within just six hours, the leader was forced to backtrack after lawmakers entered parliament to unanimously overturn the decree.
Addressing rumors that martial law will be invoked again, Yoon said that “there will be absolutely no second attempt at a constitutional amendment.”
“I will entrust my party with methods to stabilize the political situation, including the rest of my term… I apologize to the citizens for the concerns I have caused,” concluded Yoon as he stepped down from the podium and bowed.
The declaration of a military emergency, although short-lived, was met with shock and anger across the country, which remains deeply scarred by the brutality of martial law imposed during decades of military dictatorship, before winning a long and bloody fight for democracy in the 1980s.
This content was originally published in President of South Korea must avoid impeachment after boycott in the vote on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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