SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

President avoids impeachment after boycott

Too few parliament members were present. South Korea's President Yoon Suk-Yeol avoids impeachment. Members belonging to the President's party left the chamber before the voting. Thus, it was impossible to achieve the two-thirds majority required.

» Published: 07 December 2024

President avoids impeachment after boycott
Photo: Ng Han Guan/AP/TT

A new vote on the impeachment process can be held as early as Wednesday, reports BBC.

Tumultuous scenes unfolded when a large number of members from PPP, South Korea's ruling party, left the national assembly. This happened ahead of a vote on whether to put the president on trial in light of his declaration of a state of emergency with accompanying martial law earlier in the week.

Traitors, go back in, chanted opposition parliamentarians to the PPP members.

Afraid of being judged?

The speaker was also angry.

This is to ignore the people's will, he said.

A little later, he appealed to the PPP representatives to come back.

South Korea is a democracy built on people's blood and tears. Are you not afraid of being judged by history, by the people, and the world, he asked.

One member from the party stayed, and a little later, three more came back. However, to get the impeachment process through, the support of eight PPP members was needed. This is because a two-thirds majority, 200 of the 300 members, is required to initiate an impeachment process against a president.

The opposition, which has the majority in parliament, holds 192 seats.

Chanted demands

Outside the parliament, hundreds of thousands of demonstrating activists urged the president-loyal members to go back into the chamber. They also shouted demands for President Yoon to be arrested and put on trial, reports TT's correspondent.

Just hours before the vote, conservative Yoon Suk-Yeol gave a speech to the nation, apologizing for declaring a state of emergency with accompanying martial law on Tuesday. This was due to the liberal opposition paralyzing the government's work.

Since then, repeated demands for his resignation have been made.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-Yeol, who belongs to the conservative People's Party (PPP), introduced a state of emergency on the evening of December 3 to protect the country from "communist forces".

During the night against December 4, the parliament, with the Democratic Party (DP) in the majority, voted to repeal the martial law, and the state of emergency was declared invalid.

President Yoon Suk-Yeol later announced in a televised speech that he would lift the state of emergency, which lasted for about six hours in total.

The opposition wants the president to be put on trial, and the country's largest trade union has called for a general strike until he resigns.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Saudi Arabia Gives Israel the Cold Shoulder
1 MIN READ

Saudi Arabia Gives Israel the Cold Shoulder

Trump: USA to Take Over Gaza
2 MIN READ

Trump: USA to Take Over Gaza

Trump: USA to take over Gaza
2 MIN READ

Trump: USA to take over Gaza

Trump: It's Hell to Live in Gaza
2 MIN READ

Trump: It's Hell to Live in Gaza

Trump threatens Iran with tough measures and sanctions
1 MIN READ

Trump threatens Iran with tough measures and sanctions

After the Örebro Attack: Denmark Cancels Flag Day
1 MIN READ

After the Örebro Attack: Denmark Cancels Flag Day

More authorities under Trump's axe
2 MIN READ

More authorities under Trump's axe

Robert F Kennedy cleared the first hurdle
1 MIN READ

Robert F Kennedy cleared the first hurdle

Syria's new leader seeks support from Turkey
1 MIN READ

Syria's new leader seeks support from Turkey

He is to face Musk in the EU
1 MIN READ

He is to face Musk in the EU

Alarms: Catastrophe looms on the West Bank
1 MIN READ

Alarms: Catastrophe looms on the West Bank

Deadly Robot Attack in Eastern Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Deadly Robot Attack in Eastern Ukraine

The Scalp Mystery on Santorini – Thousands Leave
2 MIN READ

The Scalp Mystery on Santorini – Thousands Leave

Deadly clashes in affluent area of Haiti
1 MIN READ

Deadly clashes in affluent area of Haiti

Increased Drought and Flooding Concerns in the EU
1 MIN READ

Increased Drought and Flooding Concerns in the EU

15 sought medical attention after minor gas leak in Norway
1 MIN READ

15 sought medical attention after minor gas leak in Norway

Orbán warns EU of "Trump tornado"
1 MIN READ

Orbán warns EU of "Trump tornado"

Trump has severed ties with UN agencies
1 MIN READ

Trump has severed ties with UN agencies

Stoltenberg makes unexpected comeback in new government
2 MIN READ

Stoltenberg makes unexpected comeback in new government

Silence about two-state solution when Trump receives visit
3 MIN READ

Silence about two-state solution when Trump receives visit