South Korean president still trying to sidestep resigning
- 7 years ago
SEOUL — South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday she would step down over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal if the parliament demanded it, the Washington Post reported.
In her third televised address to the country over the scandal, Park said “I relegate the decision on my course of action, including reducing my term in office as the president, to the National Assembly.” “If the ruling and opposition parties devise a plan for a stable transition of government that would minimize any confusion or gap in the state affairs, I will resign from the presidency according to such schedule and legal procedures.”
The main opposition Democratic Party turned down Park’s offer, and said it would continue efforts to bring an impeachment motion in the National Assembly, possibly as soon as Friday, according to Reuters.
If Park resigns or is impeached, an election must be held in 60 days to nominate a president to serve a single five-year term, with the prime minister leading the nation in the interim period, Reuters reported.
Park’s approval rating has dropped to 4 percent in a poll released by Gallup Korea, the lowest of any elected South Korean president since democratization in 1987, in wake of the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
In her third televised address to the country over the scandal, Park said “I relegate the decision on my course of action, including reducing my term in office as the president, to the National Assembly.” “If the ruling and opposition parties devise a plan for a stable transition of government that would minimize any confusion or gap in the state affairs, I will resign from the presidency according to such schedule and legal procedures.”
The main opposition Democratic Party turned down Park’s offer, and said it would continue efforts to bring an impeachment motion in the National Assembly, possibly as soon as Friday, according to Reuters.
If Park resigns or is impeached, an election must be held in 60 days to nominate a president to serve a single five-year term, with the prime minister leading the nation in the interim period, Reuters reported.
Park’s approval rating has dropped to 4 percent in a poll released by Gallup Korea, the lowest of any elected South Korean president since democratization in 1987, in wake of the Choi Soon-sil scandal.