Parties divided over Park's speech: Yonhap

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 29, 2016, 17:01 Updated : November 29, 2016, 17:01
 

A giant outdoor news screen shows President Park Geun-hye making a speech.[Yonhap News Photo]


South Korean President Park Geun-hye's address on Tuesday sharply divided rival political parties, heralding a drawn-out partisan feud over her fate.

In her third public address since a massive corruption scandal broke late last month, Park said she would follow the political parties' decision, including the shortening of her presidency.

Opposition parties immediately dismissed it as a "trick" to escape the parliament's push for her impeachment, while the ruling Saenuri Party called on the opposition to reconsider the plan from scratch.

"The speech lacked self-reflection and repentance," Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, the spokesman of the main opposition Democratic Party, said. "What people want is her immediate resignation, not dragging it out and passing the responsibility to the parliament."

The party will still push ahead with its plan to put the motion up for a parliamentary vote on Friday, he added.

"It is the public's wish to have Park resign immediately without any conditions," Rep. Choo Mi-ae, head of the Democratic Party, said, adding there are no options to normalize the state affairs and end the "diplomatic humiliation."

The minor People's Party echoed the view. Its floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, said the three opposition parties and "conscientious" Saenuri lawmakers will still seek the impeachment.

Opposition politicians suspect Park is attempting to drive a wedge among Saenuri members who currently support her impeachment.

The impeachment requires support from at least 28 Saenuri members even if all opposition and independent lawmakers vote for it.

The ruling Saenuri Party welcomed Park's speech, claiming that the impeachment plan should be reconsidered.

"Park has laid down everything, and responded to the public's voice for her departure," Rep. Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of Saenuri said. He added he wishes to ask the opposition parties to reconsider the schedule for the planned impeachment.

Lee Jung-hyun, the Saenuri head, said the parliament should open discussions on Park's path within the boundary of the Constitution, while cautioning that opposition parties should not make hasty moves.

He said the speech indicated the president is acknowledging the seriousness of the issue and responding to the people's voices. The top Park loyalist added he will resign in late December amid the escalating feud within the ruling party.

(Yonhap)
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