SEOUL, Dec 06 (Reuters): South Korea's ruling party leader said President Yoon Suk Yeol needed to be removed from power for trying to impose martial law, increasing the pressure on him to quit even though members of his People Power Party late on Friday reaffirmed its formal opposition to his impeachment.
On Saturday, lawmakers will vote on the main opposition Democratic Party's motion to impeach Yoon, who shocked the nation late on Tuesday when he gave the military sweeping emergency powers in order to root out what he called "anti-state forces" and overcome obstructionist political opponents.
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Yoon rescinded the declaration about six hours later after parliament, including some members of his party, voted to oppose the decree. The conservative PPP has vowed to oppose the impeachment bill, a position it reaffirmed on Friday night following a lengthy meeting of its lawmakers - at least some of whom would need to back it for the motion to succeed.
Acting Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho said reports that had swirled throughout Friday that there might be another attempt to impose martial law were not true. PPP leader Han had earlier added fuel to those rumours, and suggested the party's stance on impeachment might be shifting, when he said there was "a high risk of extreme actions such as this emergency martial law being repeated" while Yoon remained in power.
S Korea’s Yoon under pressure to resign as threat of impeachment looms
FE Team | Published: December 06, 2024 22:21:06
S Korea’s Yoon under pressure to resign as threat of impeachment looms
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