SEOUL, December 26. /TASS/. South Korea’s Toburo Democratic Party has initiated impeachment proceedings against acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the Yonhap news agency reports.
On December 26, lawmakers submitted a draft impeachment request to the parliamentary office and presented it at a plenary session. According to the law, an impeachment vote can take place no earlier than 24 hours after the initiative is introduced at a plenary session. Yonhap notes that the vote is expected to occur on December 27.
The Toburo Party holds 170 of the 300 seats in South Korea’s National Assembly.
The opposition previously threatened to begin impeachment proceedings unless Han approved the appointment of constitutional judges by Thursday. The acting president refused to do so until the ruling and opposition factions reached a political agreement.
Earlier, the parties engaged in a dispute over the requirements for the acting president’s impeachment.
Under the constitution, removing the country’s president requires 200 out of 300 votes from lawmakers, while for other senior officials, including the prime minister, a simple majority suffices. The parties disagree on which of the rules applies to Han.