Remember Nixon

President should resign immediately with no conditions

On Aug. 1974, Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, resigned before Congress started an impeachment process over the Watergate scandal. That is still remembered as Nixon’s patriotic act to avoid further division of the nation and prevent the erosion of the presidential office.

Now President Park Geun-hye stands at this Nixonian moment — to choose between the nation’s interest and her own. It is undeniable that she has lost the people’s trust as shown by the ranks of candlelit protesters swelling to an unprecedented 2.3 million Saturday.

This undiminished show of people power greeted the tabling of an impeachment vote by all 172 opposition and independent lawmakers scheduled for Dec. 9 against Park on a wide range of constitutional and legal violations.

Being short of the two-thirds of the 300-seat National Assembly needed for the passage of the motion, they vowed to press ahead with the vote irrespective of whether pro-impeachment forces in the ruling Saenuri Party would join them or not. The ruling party’s anti-Park lawmakers are forcing the President to comply with their suggested timeline by which she will resign by April to enable the next presidential election to be held in June as the Constitution stipulates.

We have so far supported the so-called orderly exit by which Park is eased out of power in stages. We still do not approve of the opposition’s no-compromise “take-it-or-leave it” proposal, but the changed political dynamics makes her immediate and unconditional resignation the only viable option.

If she accepts her party’s suggested timeline, it may provide time for the ruling party to regroup ahead of the presidential election, but it is highly questionable if it will calm the people’s thirst for justice. Therefore, there are no guarantees that the vote will be delayed or canceled.

In the event that the impeachment vote is rejected, the massive protests could get out of hand and turn violent. Besides, the legislature — both ruling and opposition parties — would be rendered ineffective as the arbiter of people power. The result would be the nation engulfed in a great deal of confusion.

If the vote is passed, it would mean disgrace to Park and damage the prestige of the presidential office. The nation could be subjected to a prolonged leadership vacuum, because the Constitutional Court can take up to six months to reach its conclusion.

True, the President may think she has been unfairly treated or feel she has unfinished work to do, but as a leader she should know what she can do for the nation. Nixon set the best example under the worst circumstances. So should Park.