Opposition takes steps to impeach Park

By Jun Ji-hye

Opposition parties officially began moves to impeach President Park Geun-hye, Monday, in what could be a long, uphill battle with the scandal-ridden leader who has defied public calls to voluntarily step down.

This comes after the prosecution described Park as an “accomplice” to her aides and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil who were indicted in the worst-ever corruption case in the country’s modern history.

Park has refused to comply with the prosecution’s requests for questioning, reneging on her earlier promise to cooperate with the investigation.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) unanimously adopted a statement to push for Park’s impeachment at a party meeting. Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said the party will establish a panel dedicated to reviewing the procedures and methods needed to impeach Park.

“Once the National Assembly passes an impeachment bill, and the Constitutional Court makes the right decision through a review of criminal charges against Park that have been exposed so far, the impeachment will be accomplished,” Choo said.

The second largest opposition People’s Party made Park’s impeachment its official stance, saying it will cooperate with other opposition parties as well as lawmakers from the Saenuri Party who have stood up to the President.

Under the law, more than two thirds of sitting lawmakers must vote in favor of the impeachment bill to pass it. This means that at least 200 votes are needed, but the three opposition parties hold only 165 seats. Even if six independent lawmakers join with them, at least 29 votes from the Saenuri Party are necessary, meaning that cooperation from the governing party is essential.

“The political and ethical conditions required for Park’s impeachment are now in place,” said Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-chairman of the People’s Party. “There is no need to postpone tabling the impeachment bill.”

The opposition parties said the Assembly’s move to impeach Park should be in parallel with a national drive to oust her, saying the opposition parties will also continue to pressure the President to voluntarily step down, apparently mindful that the legal procedures to impeach an incumbent are not easy.

The People’s Party called on other parties to cooperate in choosing a new prime minister, who will lead a nonpartisan Cabinet, at the earliest possible date to minimize any possible power vacuum that could result from Park’s resignation or impeachment.

But ruling party floor leader Chung Jin-suk was opposed to the idea, saying, “It is absurd to ask the President to appoint a parliamentary-picked prime minister while parties call her a criminal suspect.”

Chung said the prosecution specified in its indictment that Park conspired with Choi in the alleged irregularities, but criminal charges have yet to be established. However, he added that if the opposition parties propose the impeachment bill, he, as floor leader of the ruling party, will cooperate in examining it.

For her part, minor opposition Justice Party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jeung said leaders of the three opposition parties should meet at the earliest possible date to discuss the impeachment bill.

It remains to be seen whether their attempt to impeach Park will eventually be successful as there is a lot of procedural work involved.

Even if the opposition camp secures 29 votes from the ruling party and the bill is passed at the Assembly, the President can only be stripped of her powers when six of the nine Constitutional Court justices concur that she committed a crime that makes her unfit to serve.

The top court can deliberate on the impeachment proposal approved by the Assembly for up to six months, during which public sentiment and opinions could change as time goes on.

In addition, a ruling against Park’s impeachment may trigger a political backlash. This is what the President apparently hopes will happen while ignoring public calls for her resignation.

Mindful of the complicated procedure, Choo said, “Pushing for the impeachment of the President requires perfect preparation,” stressing that the optimal option was still for Park to voluntarily resign.