An Impeachment Motion Against President Roh

The political situation has become extremely worse with thirty days to go until the seventeenth general election as the Grand National Party (GNP) and the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) introduced a motion of impeachment against President Roh Moo-hyun on March 9.

In particular, the scuffle seems to be inevitable since the pro-government Uri Party decided to block the plenary session to discuss and vote on impeachment proceedings.

Officials from the GNP and the MDP submitted their impeachment resolution and related materials with 159 signatures from both parties’ representatives on the same day.

It is the first time a motion of impeachment has been introduced against president in constitutional government history.

Once an impeachment motion is introduced, the National Assembly then has to report it to the plenary session. Then representatives have to take a secret vote on it within 72 hours after 24 hours to review the report.

If they cannot pass a resolution during that time, the motion will fall into disuse. If it is passed, however, the Constitutional Court will hold an impeachment trial against President Roh, stopping his power automatically.

Before this, the GNP held an urgent general meeting of the Assembly members and made a decision to introduce an impeachment resolution after a heated argument. Rep. Ahn Sang-soo and Rep. Maeng Hyung-kyu of the GDP suggested being more careful at the meeting. However, GNP leader Choe Byung-yul urged participation by saying, “I cannot stop your argument if you want. But I do appeal to you to speak with one voice to show our certain position.”

The GNP also postponed its National Assembly agenda that was originally scheduled on March 10 to March 12 for the vote. MDP reaffirmed its position to go along with the GNP for the impeachment motion at the standing committee meeting.

Meanwhile, Chŏng Wa Dae held an urgent chief staff meeting to discuss countermeasures under the leadership of presidential chief of staff Kim Woo-sik.

The Uri Party regarded the impeachment proposal as a coup d`état to destroy constitutional order, and decided to stop the opposition parties’ movements. In particular, it planned to create a group for guarding constitutional order, joining with those who are supporting Roh, to fight back.

Uri leader Chung Dong-young stressed, “It is our mission to stop the impeachment. We have to act now with those who have a clear conscience. Let’s move with the nation.”

Young-Chan Yoon Jong-Koo Yoon yyc11@donga.com jkmas@donga.com