[VIDEO] South Korea Parliament Impeaches President Park Geun-Hye
Posted: December 8, 2016 Filed under: Asia, Breaking News, Global, Mediasphere, Politics | Tags: Constitutional Court of Thailand, Impeachment, Legislator, National Assembly (South Korea), Opposition (parliamentary), Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea, Saenuri Party, SEOUL, South Korea Leave a comment
Seoul (AFP) – South Korean lawmakers on Friday passed an impeachment motion against President Park stripping away her sweeping executive powers over a corruption scandal that paralysed her administration and triggered massive street protests.
The National Assembly motion — passed by 234 votes to 56 — transfers Park’s authority to the prime minister, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to ratify the decision and permanently remove the president from office.
Update: South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment Friday means she has been stripped of power — but not the perks.
Even as her prime minister governs in her stead, Park gets to keep living at the presidential Blue House, using her official car and plane, collecting the same monthly salary (about $15,000 reportedly) and receiving round-the-clock security.
She also holds onto the title “President.”
But with nothing officially to do, it’s uncertain how she’ll spend her days during the up-to-six months the country’s Constitutional Court has to decide whether to accept the impeachment and formally end her presidency. Read the rest of this entry »
South Korea: President Park Geun-hye to ‘Calmly Accept Impeachment Outcome’
Posted: December 6, 2016 Filed under: Asia, Global, Politics | Tags: Blue House, Constitutional Court of Thailand, Impeachment, Legislator, Park Geun-hye, President of South Korea, Protest, Ruling party, SEOUL, South Korea Leave a comment
SEOUL (AP) — South Korean President Park Geun-hye will calmly accept impeachment if the opposition-controlled parliament votes for her removal this week, but prefers to resign on her own terms, lawmakers from her party said Tuesday.
Chung Jin Suk, floor leader of the conservative ruling party, said after an hour-long meeting with Park that she was willing to accept a now-withdrawn proposal by the party for her to voluntarily step down in April to set up a presidential election in June.
The party’s chairman, Lee Jung Hyun, who also attended the meeting, said it seemed that Park was hoping lawmakers would accept her resignation rather than push ahead with an attempt to impeach her.
Park has been accused by state prosecutors of helping a close confidante extort money and favors from large companies and manipulate state affairs.
TV Stations Silenced, Schools Shut After Thai Army Coup
Posted: May 23, 2014 Filed under: Asia, War Room | Tags: Bangkok, Bloomberg L.P., Constitutional Court of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-Ocha, Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra 3 Comments
Thai soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint near the pro-government ”Red shirts” camp site on the outskirts of Bangkok on May 22, 2014. Photographer: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images
For Bloomberg, Chris Blake and Anuchit Nguyen report: Schools were shut and international television channels were off air as stations broadcast military logos and periodic army statements, a day after Thailand’s military seized control following a six-month political stalemate that has sapped economic growth.
Traffic was light in Bangkok after the army ordered schools and universities closed until May 25. Army Chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who announced the coup on national television yesterday, imposed a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. and banned political protests. Read the rest of this entry »
