S. Korea enters crucial week with impeachment vote on Park

Lawmakers and members of opposition People's Party hold cards during a rally demanding the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. The signs read" President Park Geun-hye" and "Impeachment!" (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

Lawmakers and members of opposition People's Party stage a rally demanding the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye as elementary school students watch at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. The banner read " The impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye". (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

South Korea is entering potentially one of the most momentous weeks in its recent political history, with impeachment looming for President Park Geun-hye as ruling party dissenters align with the opposition in a strengthening effort to force her out.

Anti-Park lawmakers in the ruling Saenuri Party said Monday that about 35-40 of them will vote for Park's impeachment Friday. Those votes, when combined with 172 from opposition and anti-Park independent lawmakers, should be enough to impeach her.

The decision by the anti-Park ruling party lawmakers came after hundreds of thousands of people turned up for a rally Saturday calling for Park's ouster, the sixth straight weekend of demonstrations.

The opposition submitted an impeachment motion over the weekend, accusing Park of letting a longtime confidante manipulate government affairs.