South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s conditional resignation offer appears to be causing cracks in what previously had been a strong push for her impeachment.
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Her planned speech comes as opposition parties close in on an impeachment motion against her.
The president had up to three days to make her pick on the probe chief, but made the announcement in just a day, reflecting her earlier stance that she would face a “politically neutral” independent probe rather than the prosecution’s questioning.
The scandal-plagued president threw the ball of decision on her fate in the parliamentary court, saying she will follow the parliamentary decision including the shortening of presidency.
Her proposal was considered an alternative to impeachment. About 40 ruling party lawmakers have expressed their willingness to vote to oust Park.
The smaller opposition People’s Party on Thursday warned against bringing an impeachment motion to the floor of parliament without ensuring the support of Park’s Saenuri Party, which would be needed for it to pass.
However, Park has refused any voluntary retreat.
“Merchants (here) supported me whenever I had difficulties and I’m really sorry”, Park said during her visit, according to her office. “Impeachment is the only way”, he said.
That seems different from the position of the Democratic Party, which, as of this morning, was still pushing for an impeachment vote tomorrow. “Passing it is the goal”.
Park cried after returning to her vehicle, her office said, citing presidential security staff who travelled with her.
He said that if rival parties do not agree to any roadmap for Park’s resignation, the impeachment should be pursued no later than next Friday.
An impeachment motion requires the votes from two-thirds of the National Assembly to pass.
“As the non-Park members of Saenuri wish to continue discussions until next Wednesday, it is unlikely that the motion will be passed (on Friday)”, the People’s Party’s Lee added.
Park’s presidency has been rocked by a political scandal involving her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil, who was indicted earlier this month for interfering in state affairs and directing funds to her non-profit organizations for her personal use.
Park’s first term was set to end in February 2018.
The former president ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a military coup in 1961, until his assassination in 1979.
However, they failed to reach any agreement on detailed schedules and legal procedures for the president’s resignation which Park demanded in her speech on Tuesday.
At the same time, the president’s office is increasing pressure on the deputies. Impeachment could have been quicker. “Do you think we can handle such a sudden presidential election?”
“The sense of betrayal is so vast. because I trusted her so much”, Kim Young-Rah, a 62-year-old housewife from Daegu, Park’s hometown, said during a recent mass protest in Seoul. Many opposition lawmakers rejected the idea of Park’s resignation residing with the National Assembly.
The opposition have previously said they would try to impeach Park either this Friday or on December 9, when a parliamentary plenary session is scheduled. Of the 31 lawmakers, 27 responded to the poll.
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They paid the money out of fear of political reprisals such as tax hikes or punitive increases in red tape, investigators said.
