The South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has been amid deep waters ever since the controversy surfaced when her friend Choi Soon Sil was accused of manipulating important Presidential decisions and being involved in money-laundering and now her case has been referred to the Constitutional Court as she has been formally charged with ‘abuse of power’ and bribery.
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye
Lee Joong-Hwan, Park’s attorney said that the allegations made against her are completely baseless submitting a 24-page rebuttal to the court.
“We can’t accept that there was any violation of the constitution by the president… the impeachment motion should be rejected”, said Lee.
The opposition has been adamant, demanding her impeachment, while Geun-Hye has offered to submit an early resignation while the parliament decides. However, the critics are of the view that it is a mere tactic to save herself from being impeached. The President offered to resign on Nov 29 after huge rallies marched down the streets in the state demanding the removal of Geun-Hye from the post.
“We came to believe that it is necessary to raid certain parts of the (presidential) Blue House”, said Lee Kyu-Chul, the spokesperson for the team of prosecutors on the case.
“I will leave the issue of my departure, including the (possible) reduction of my term in office, to a decision by the National Assembly…Once lawmakers come up with measures to transfer power in a way that minimises any power vacuum and chaos in governance, I will step down.”, she had earlier said in the Parliament.
Ever since the news of Park Geun-Hye and her devious spiritual advisor being involved in a mammoth scandal surfaced, the masses do not trust President’s credibility any longer and want her removed soon. Nationwide protests have been undertaken by the people that have been continuing for over a month now.
Park is the first President to be accused of criminal charges, however, any proceedings cannot be undertaken against here as long as she stays in the office. “Our stance to seek Park’s impeachment remains unchanged“, said the leader of the opposition Democratic political party.
The procedure of President’s impeachment can take up to six months. In the case of Park’s impeachment, the Prime Minister will take over as the interim head of the government and discharge the official duties of the President.
