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South Korea’s ruling party has thrown its support behind attempts to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated decision to declare martial law that sparked a political crisis and widespread public anger in the country.
The announcement came moments before Yoon delivered a defiant speech Thursday in which he attempted to justify his hugely controversial martial law decision and rejected growing calls from across the political spectrum for him to stand down.
The People Power Party (PPP) had initially refused to back impeachment, hoping instead Yoon would resign from office. But its leadership said attempts to persuade him had made no progress.
“We tried to find a better way than impeachment, but that other way is invalid,” party leader Han Dong-hoon said. “Suspending the President from his duties through impeachment is the only way for now, to defend democracy and the republic.”
The main opposition Democratic Party is preparing a new impeachment motion against Yoon, with a vote expected as soon as Saturday. The President survived an impeachment bid last weekend when PPP members boycotted the vote.
But after his party threw its weight behind impeachment, Han said PPP lawmakers were now free to vote according to their “belief and conscience.”
“I believe our party members will vote for the country and the people,” he said. (CNN)
