To remove Yoon Suk Yeol, 200 votes are needed out of the 300 available in the National Assembly; however, only 194 parliamentarians attended
Deputies from the Popular Power Party (PPP), which supports the president, abandoned the president’s party this Saturday (7). The maneuver comes amid a political crisis, after the president declared martial law at the beginning of the week, which raised concerns about the health of democracy in the country. For the impeachment to be approved, the support of the opposition is necessary.
The impeachment vote was scheduled for 5 pm local time, and for Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal to occur, 200 votes are needed out of the 300 available in the National Assembly. However, only 194 parliamentarians attended the session, and only two PPP members decided to remain. The absence of opposition makes the approval of impeachment practically impossible.
Yoon Suk Yeol, who became one of the most unpopular presidents in the country’s recent history, apologized to the South Korean people for declaring martial law. This measure, generally used in situations of war or social crises, was adopted by Yoon Suk Yeol in an effort to stabilize his government, which faces strong popular rejection. Pressure on his administration increased after it was revealed that he ordered the arrest of politicians during martial law.
The PPP leader, in recent statements, indicated that Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation is an inevitable possibility given the current political situation. The opposition, under the leadership of Lee Jae-myung, is demanding investigations into the president, including charges of high treason. Lee emphasized that South Korean democracy is facing one of its most critical moments, reflecting the severity of the ongoing political crisis.
*Report produced with the help of AI
Posted by Luisa dos Santos
