(Bloomberg) -- South Korea’s ruling party is looking to prevent President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment by voting against a motion to initiate proceedings that may take place Saturday.
People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said Thursday he will push against the passage of the impeachment motion as he has asked Yoon to leave the ruling party.
While lawmakers from Yoon’s party quickly voted with the opposition to reject the president’s martial law order earlier this week, Han’s comment suggest the party’s members may be less likely to vote in favor of starting impeachment proceedings.
Han’s comment comes as Yoon replaced a defense chief reported to have ordered troops to the National Assembly where lawmakers were assembling to vote down the martial law decree.
Yoon named Choi Byung-hyuk, ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to replace Kim Yong-hyun, the presidential office said in a statement.
The main opposition party said Wednesday it would pursue charges of treason against both Yoon and Kim, alleging that the short-lived declaration of martial law on Tuesday was illegal. Kim offered his resignation on Wednesday.
The opposition is now targeting Saturday for the parliamentary vote on the impeachment motion, a Democratic Party official said.
Yoon’s surprise gamble on Tuesday night to assert his authority with martial law blindsided the nation, his own party and global allies including the US. He later rescinded the order after parliament voted it down. Yoon has stayed silent since his briefing to announce the lifting of the martial law.
Kim was responsible for ordering the deployment of troops to parliament, according to Yonhap News, citing the vice defense minister.
Han’s move to rally PPP support against the impeachment motion may help him show that the PPP is still faithful to its conservative support while distancing itself from the president.
Lawmakers will need to wait at least 24 hours before they can vote on the impeachment motion with a time limit of 72 hours.
A two-thirds majority is required to approve the impeachment proceedings. The opposition would therefore need 200 votes, requiring several ruling party members to defy Han and vote with it.
--With assistance from Seyoon Kim.
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