[Aftermath of Impeachment Vote’s Defeat]
Despite Pro-Yoon’s firm stance of “impeachment is absolutely unacceptable,” the decision not to participate in the vote has led to backlash and doubts due to the prosecution’s investigation.
There’s increasing pressure on ruling party lawmakers to support impeachment. In top circles, there’s acknowledgment that simply refusing to vote is challenging.
On the afternoon of the 7th, as the National Assembly plenary session saw the introduction of the president’s impeachment bill, lawmakers from the People Power Party exited. They had attended the vote for the ‘Kim Kun-hee Special Prosecutor Act’ but boycotted the president’s impeachment vote. Only lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Ye-ji, and Kim Sang-wook participated in the vote from the ruling party. Reporter Jang Seung-yoon tomato99@donga.com.
Ahead of the Democratic Party’s scheduled second vote on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment regarding the ‘December 3 Martial Law’ incident on the 14th, the People Power Party’s defense line of opposing impeachment party-wide is weakening. The public backlash against the party ditching the impeachment vote on the 7th saying it “chose the president over the people” is heating up. Consequently, some lawmakers believe it will be difficult to maintain or adhere to the party’s anti-impeachment stance unless they find a way to appease public opinion before the vote on the 14th.
At the emergency caucus on the 9th, freshman lawmaker Kim Yong-tae reportedly proposed pursuing a special prosecutor law against President Yoon in connection with the martial law declaration, emphasizing the need to uncover the substantive truth behind the charges of conspiracy. This is the first time voices within the ruling party called to introduce a special prosecutor law against President Yoon.
While the pro-Yoon and veteran group still hold steadfastly that “impeachment is absolutely unacceptable,” some from the pro-Han (pro-Han Dong-hoon) faction noted shifts are occurring against the anti-impeachment tide. Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who claimed he voted against the impeachment in the last vote, stated, “Unless a faster retirement roadmap than impeachment emerges before the impeachment vote, I’ll vote in favor,” and said that the number of lawmakers agreeing with impeachment will increase over time.
The emergency caucus saw numerous endorsements to participate in the next impeachment vote. If ruling party lawmakers participate in the vote, it cannot be ruled out that there might be eight dissident votes necessary for the impeachment to pass. The impeachment vote is anonymous, so without self-disclosure, it’s impossible to ascertain who voted in favor. In the previous week’s vote, People Power Party lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Ye-ji publicly cast their votes against the party line in favor.
A pro-Han lawmaker said in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, “Opinions advocating in favor of impeachment surfaced during the caucus, indicating shifts against the impeachment defense line.” Following failed impeachment and public backlash, ongoing prosecutorial investigations, a looming economic perfect storm, and continual foreign press criticism, skepticism grows within the party about maintaining the anti-impeachment stance.
In a closed session of the ruling party’s top committee meeting that morning, members worried that not participating in the impeachment vote had tied the party too closely to the president, worsening public opinion with the image of party lawmakers leaving the plenary hall. There’s sentiment that they might struggle to bypass the upcoming Saturday’s impeachment vote. Pro-Han People Power Party’s top member Kim Jong-hyuk stated, “It won’t be easy for our entire party to keep ignoring (the impeachment vote). It’s not something we can avoid forever.”
Pressure on ruling party lawmakers to support impeachment is mounting. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop hid all his posts on Instagram after facing negative comments opposing impeachment. Lawmakers’ offices in regions such as Seoul and Busan are swamped with visits, calls, and condolence wreaths protesting their stance against impeachment. A party official shared, “It seems difficult for lawmakers to persist in their opposition till this week’s vote.”