S Korean leader is ‘buying time’

IMPEACHMENT: PARK’S LAWYERS STALL COURT

Seoul

South Korea’s President Park Geun-Hye is trying to run out the clock in her impeachment trial, analysts say, warning of public uproar if her lawyers’ delaying tactics succeed.

Park was impeached by parliament in December over a corruption scandal that brought millions of people onto the streets in protests.

The Constitutional Court in Seoul is now deliberating whether to approve the impeachment, which would trigger new elections, or to allow her to see out her five-year term.

Critics say Park’s lawyers have been stalling the process, calling up irrelevant witnesses. Last month, her counsel threatened to resign when the court allowed only 10 of their 39 witnesses.

The court’s chief justice retired last week, leaving an empty red-backed chair at the end of the bench, and another judge will step down at the end of her term in little over a month.

By law six votes – a two-thirds majority of the full nine-member bench – are needed to uphold the impeachment, however many judges are sitting.

That effectively means that from March 14, Park will need the backing of only two justices to return to the presidential Blue House – and most have conservative political allegiances.

Park is accused of colluding with Choi Soon-Sil, to strong-arm donations worth millions from top firms to dubious foundations controlled by Choi. – AFP