People Power Party Abstains from 'Yoon Impeachment Proposal' Vote... Opposes 'Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' as Party Policy [Summary]

The People Power Party decided on the 7th to reject both the impeachment proposal against President Yoon Suk-yeol and the special prosecutor act for Kim Keon-hee at the National Assembly plenary session. The requirement for passing the presidential impeachment proposal is 'approval from at least two-thirds of the total members'.

Currently, even if all 192 opposition seats are present and vote in favor, the proposal will be rejected unless more than 8 members from the People Power Party defect. However, since the vote is anonymous, there is a possibility of defection from the party line.

In response, the People Power Party decided to abstain from the impeachment vote to completely block the possibility of defection. Unlike the impeachment proposal, the special prosecutor act for Kim Keon-hee, which was returned to the National Assembly with a presidential re-request (veto), can be passed with 'approval from at least two-thirds of the present members' if more than half of the total members are present. Since the opposition can pass it without the ruling party's participation, the People Power Party plans to vote against it.

People Power Party members participated in the vote on the special prosecutor act for Kim Keon-hee, which was put to a vote first in the plenary session, and then exited in sequence before the impeachment vote.

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com