South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol. On Saturday, 204 lawmakers voted in favor of the removal, 85 against, and three abstained, with eight invalid votes.
The background is that Yoon had been strongly criticized for declaring a state of emergency in a budget dispute with the opposition, and then retracting the declaration hours later amid massive resistance. A week ago, a similar proposal failed due to a boycott by the ruling party. A two-thirds majority is needed for the impeachment.
Interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will take over the state leader’s duties before the Constitutional Court makes a final decision. The judges can either confirm the impeachment or declare it unconstitutional.
The opposition accuses Yoon of a constitutional breach. He unexpectedly declared a state of emergency on December 1 and, hours later, retracted it amid intense resistance. The parliamentary vote was also accompanied by large protests on Saturday.