All 300 lawmakers should cast their ballots according to their conscience as representatives of the people in an impeachment vote against President Park Geun-hye today.
The total of 171 lawmakers ― 121 from the Democratic Party of Korea except for Speaker Chung Sye-kyun; 38 from the People’s Party, six from the Justice Party and seven independents ― submitted a motion to impeach President Park. The vote, which should be held within 72 hours after it is put to the plenary session, is expected to receive the backing of all of them plus the speaker who did not sign it but will cast a vote.
This leaves the fate of the impeachment effort to 128 lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri Party because the passage of the motion requires the support of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly. The party is roiled and pulled in two directions ― those who align their political fate with Park despite the people’s anger, those who are against her and those who have not decided.
Ahead of the vote, all Saenuri Party lawmakers should be reminded that their sworn mission is to represent and serve the people. Partisan loyalty, political self-interest and all other priorities are secondary to this cardinal mission and their raison d’etre. How they vote and what outcome it brings about will determine, in the eyes of the people, their masters, whether they have been doing their job properly.
Park’s flaws as leader have become even more apparent at the parliamentary hearing.
Key witnesses confirmed the veracity of incredible reports by Choi Soon-sil, Park’s longtime friend, acting as if she were president, while Park was her servant eager to meet whatever wishes her friend had. Cha Eun-taek, now in jail for helping Choi and influence-peddling, told the hearing, “I felt President Park and Choi were equally strong.”
Charges against Park are composed of sharing presidential authority with Choi and engaging in extortion and bribery in the process of drawing “donations” from chaebol for two foundations under Choi’s control. Park’s unexplained crucial seven-hour absence while the ferry Sewol was sinking was hotly debated for inclusion.
But Park’s most unforgivable crime is her colossal breach of the people’s trust, which has caused an acute sense of hopelessness in society and serious damage to the office of the presidency. The people’s anger has been well illustrated by weeks of candlelit protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people for weeks with surveys showing that eight of 10 people support Park’s impeachment.
The Saenuri Party lawmakers should vote on behalf of the nation that is eager to see justice prevail and show an emphatic support for it so the Constitutional Court will be able to reduce its maximum six-month deliberation period as much as possible.