By Anadolu staff
ANKARA (AA) – South Korea’s main opposition party on Thursday unilaterally approved a controversial bill calling for a special investigation into accusations involving first lady Kim Keon-hee amid a boycott by the ruling party lawmakers.
The revised special counsel probe bill presented by the Democratic Party (DP) was passed in a 191-0 vote, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers refused to attend Thursday's parliamentary plenary session in boycott of the vote.
The bill focuses on two key allegations against the first lady -- her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and interference in election nominations through a power broker.
It also allows a third party to recommend a special prosecutor.
This was the third version of the bill targeting the first lady following a similar proposal vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol last month.
A revote had ultimately scrapped the previous bill.
The PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said the party will request Yoon to again exercise his veto power.
The DP plans to put the bill up for a revote on Nov. 28 if it is vetoed by the president.
According to the country’s constitution, a vetoed bill requires support from two-thirds of lawmakers to override the presidential veto.
The opposition requires eight splinter votes from the PPP to override the presidential veto.