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The National Assembly decided to impeach South Korea's President, Yoon Suk-yeol, following his failed attempt to impose martial law last week.
The opposition parties, which enjoy a majority in the Legislative Council, need the support of eight out of 108 legislators from the President’s People Power Party, to ensure the required two-thirds majority. The proposal passed by a margin of 204-85.
Yoon survived an impeachment motion last Saturday after lawmakers from the conservative Pakistan People's Party boycotted the vote. But the mood in the party began to turn against him on Thursday after a speech in which he criticized his critics and pledged to “fight until the end.”
While the PPP's official position was to oppose Yoon's impeachment, leader Han Dong-hun announced on Thursday that members should vote “based on their convictions and conscience” during a secret ballot on Saturday.
Yoon's impeachment It still must obtain approval from the South Korean Constitutional CourtIt is supposed to issue its ruling within 180 days of the parliamentary vote, but this deadline is not binding.
Meanwhile, Yoon will be suspended from his duties and constitutional power will be transferred to Prime Minister Han Dak-soo, appointed by Yoon and a career technocrat, on an interim basis.
The last president to be successfully impeached was conservative Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 after a bribery and influence scandal that sparked large street demonstrations.
This is a developing story
