The National Assembly is set for a crucial week that may decide whether or not Park Geun-hye will become the second president in the nation’s history to be impeached.
The largest protest in the nation’s history demanded Park’s immediate dismissal Saturday, but the prospects for her parliamentary impeachment remain unclear. The historic vote is to take place Friday.
The opposition bloc, which submitted the motion to impeach Park last Friday, on Sunday reassured the public of an all-out effort to secure as many votes from the ruling Saenuri Party as possible. Without at least 28 votes from the Saenuri Party, which President Park founded and represented in the presidential election, the bill won‘t clear the required two-thirds threshold in the 300-member parliament.
“The (Saenuri lawmakers) must now decide whether to be an accomplice to Park or stand on the side of the people. ... If the motion is not passed, the parliament will be the ones impeached by the people,” said Rep. Ki Dong-min, floor spokesman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.
Minor opposition parties -- the People’s Party and Justice Party -- echoed the Democratic Party.
Protesters hold torches, instead of candles, in a show of their heightened anger toward President Park Geun-hye during a rally in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Saturday. (Xinhua-Yonhap)
Saenuri’s nonmainstream faction decided Sunday afternoon to support the impeachment vote, reversing its position to call for Park’s resignation on April. It had requested Park to come up with a decision by 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday continued its silence on the proposal, despite earlier reports that Park was mulling such a move.
The nonmainstream group of Saenuri lawmakers -- former Park allies who have now turned critical of the president -- can make or break the impeachment.
They had earlier vowed to join forces with the opposition to oust Park, but appeared to have changed their stance after the embattled president offered Tuesday to step down according to a schedule and legal process to be agreed by the parliament.
After an emergency meeting on Sunday, they vowed to take part in the voting regardless of Park’s decision while adding that they will not meet the president even if she requests it.
Park has been subject to a criminal investigation on allegations that she conspired with her civilian friend Choi Soon-sil and her former aides on series of wrongdoings such as abusing authority to raise funds for nonprofit organizations -- suspected of being a cover for embezzlement -- and leaking confidential documents.
On Saturday, an estimated 2.3 million people took to the streets in a resounding “I don’t think so” to Park’s controversial offer. The largest protest ever snubbed expectations that the anti-Park sentiment would die out, including Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Jin-tae’s prediction that the “candlelight (vigil) will be blown out.”
In addition to how, when the embattled leader will step down is another thorny issue in bipartisan negotiation.
The opposition’s timeline has Park exiting Cheong Wa Dae around late January, assuming her impeachment in set in motion this month. Depending on how much time the Constitutional Court will take to deliberate, the next presidential election could take place as early as March.
The election is considered a main motive behind the Saenuri Party’s calls for Park’s April resignation. Last week’s poll by Gallop Korea showed the ruling party’s support at 15 percent, less than half the 34 percent of its main rival Democratic Party and just one point ahead of the People’s Party.
In addition, former Democratic Party leader Moon Jae-in has been a solid front-runner among all presidential hopefuls. According to local pollster Realmeter, he has led the race for the sixth week running with 20.7 percent.
With the exception of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, all other possible candidates --such as Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party -- are from the opposition bloc.
Observers are saying this is the unspoken reason behind the quarrel about the timing of Park’s resolution.
This week will also host a parliamentary audit on the special governmental committee of the Choi Soon-sil scandal, starting Monday. One of the focuses of the hearing is the donations by local corporations to the Mir and K-Sports foundations.
The donations are suspected of being bribes for Park and Choi’s inner circles. Testimonies at the hearing are expected to affect the public’s already ill feelings toward Park and possibly the prospect of the upcoming impeachment vote.
By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)
