Talk about impeaching the president grows in political parties

Talk about impeaching the president grows in political parties. November. 21, 2016 07:09. by Dong-Yong Min, Jin-Woo Shin mindy@donga.com,niceshin@donga.com.

As the prosecution labeled President Park Geun-hye as a suspect when announcing an interim result of its investigation into the Choi Soon-sil gate on Sunday, talk about impeaching the president is growing in the political circle. As more voices are calling for the need to seek impeachment motion among the non-mainstream faction in the ruling party, in addition to the opposition camp, parliamentary discussions about presidential impeachment will likely pick up speed.

Demanding impeachment movement first emerged after a meeting of the opposition camp’s presidential candidates and political leaders on the day. Former Minjoo Party Chairman Moon Jae-in, former People’s Party co-Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, South Chungcheong Governor Ahn Hee-jung, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, Minjoo lawmaker Kim Bu-gyeom, and former People’s Party co-Chairman Chun Jung-bae, and Justice Party Chairwoman Shim Sang-jeong held the luncheon meeting at the National Assembly, where they said, “We have confirmed that President Park’s acts of crimes are obvious and grave, and hence constitute a cause for impeachment.” In their agreement, they also said, “We demand the three opposition parties and the National Assembly come up with countermeasures, including discussions about motion to impeach President Park in parallel with a public campaign to seek her resignation, the National Assembly-led selection of prime minister and formation of a transition cabinet to minimize state administration at the earliest date possible.” Since impeachment motion is taken by the National Assembly, presidential candidates have effectively empowered the Assembly to take action.