PPP Encourages South Korean President Yoon To Step Down Early February, Opposition Initiates Impeachment Volume 2
JAKARTA - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is discussing Yoon's possible resignation in early February after his military emergency failed. The general election will be held in April or May.
Yoon has apologized for last week's military emergency declaration that sparked a political crisis and vowed to leave his fortune to the People's Power Party (PPP) but has not resigned.
Yoon is now the target of a criminal investigation on charges of rebellion, barred from leaving the country, and faces a second impeachment vote planned for Saturday this week.
Lee Yang-soo, who chaired the PPP task force set up to map Yoon's resignation in a 'ordered' manner, said his team proposed the idea for Yoon to resign in February or March and hold a general election two months later.
The South Korean Constitution requires elections within 60 days of his resignation if Yoon leaves office before his five-year term ends in May 2027.
"We have not reached a conclusion across the party and will hold another meeting with all lawmakers in the afternoon to discuss the plan," Lee told reporters.
This idea came three days after PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the president would be excluded from foreign affairs and other state affairs. Meanwhile Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will oversee the government.
The Democratic Party's main opposition (DP) criticized the announcement, saying it was unconstitutional and Yoon should be impeached or resign and face lawsuits.
They plan to file another draft impeachment law on Saturday after last week's first vote failed due to the PPP boycott.
VOIR éGALEMENT:
When asked about PPP's proposal, DP leader Lee Jae-myung admitted that he was not sure if the public would accept the idea of "keeping serious criminals in office until then."
A DP spokesman also issued a statement rejecting the plan and called it "absurd," and said PPP had no authority to compile any roadmaps for Yoon's departure.
The only option available is to impeach it.