South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol survives theimpeachment thanks to the last minute agreement with the conservatives of People Power Partyhis party, which boycotted the vote in Parliament. The opposition’s push failed despite theoptimism manifested until this morning, between mass protests and national outrage over the clumsiness martial law declared by Yoon on Tuesday evening and revoked just six hours later, due to the unanimous vote against in the Parliament of 190 deputies present, including 18 of the People Power Party.
Instead, the oppositionswhich they boast 192 on 300 seats of theNational Assemblythey failed to collect the 8 dissenting votes between 108 of the ruling party useful in achieving the quorum Of 200. They only took three, pushing the speaker Woo Won-shik to formalize the failure of the motion despite the pressing appeals to the deputies of the People Power Party to return to the chamber because «the Republic of Korea is a democracy made of people’s blood and tears. Take part in the vote, so that democracy is protected.”
Nothing to do, theAventine he held up. The parliamentary leader of the ruling party Choo Kyung-hoHowever, the initiative’s strategist ended up in the crosshairs and announced his resignation. Han Dong-hoonthe head of the People Power Party, explained late in the evening that the objective is now to favor “an orderly withdrawal of the president to minimize chaos”, saying he is ready to consult with the opposition. «The president will effectively be deprived of his duties until he retires, and the premier will handle state affairs in consultation with the party,” he added.
So here’s the pact agreed: according to observers, Yoon has handed over the political leadership of the country to his party and agreed to resign at the time indicated to him in exchange for the blocking of theimpeachment. Although most South Korean conservatives have not forgiven Yoon’s move on martial law, the trauma of the former conservative president’s impeachment is still alive Park Geun-hye In the 2017which paved the way for the easy election of Moon Jae-inat centre-left altitude. The People Power Party’s hope is to gain time to better prepare for the next ones presidential.
The Yoon-party agreement, worthy of a popular script k-dramawas anticipated this morning by the former chief prosecutor in the surprise TV message addressed to nation: two minutes accompanied by bows to apologize for “causing public anxiety” due to the martial law which led to orders banning political activities and the mobilization of thearmy. «It will not happen again and I will not escape legal and political responsibility for martial law», motivated “by the sense of urgency”. He then explained that he will let “our party stabilize the political situation in the future, including my mandate.”
Meanwhile, after the parliamentary defeat, the party leader Democratic Lee Jae-myung he assured that there will be “other motions” of impeachment. And, addressing the large crowd of demonstrators in front of Parliament, Lee apologized for the failure, but insisted that “he will not give up. Yoon has become the worst danger for the Republic of Korea. We will bring the country back to normal by Christmas and the end of the year and give it to you as a Christmas and end-of-year gift.”
Despite the cold, tens of thousands of people came out to demonstrate (150 thousand for the police, more than a million for the promoters) and to mark slogan to Yoon, demanding his resignation. As a farewell song, the organizers chose ‘All I Want for Christmas‘ Of Mariah Careyinviting everyone to collect the rubbish. “We won’t stop until Yoon is punished,” one of the organizers chanted from the stage. «People will not accept the existence of People Power People. We will fight until Yoon is indicted. Dear ones, will you join the fight to remove Yoon?” he asked. The answer was obvious: a “Yes!” in unison at the top of their lungs. The tensions I’m just starting out.