The South Korean opposition accused, this Monday, December 9, the ruling party of committing a “second coup d’état” by refusing to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his failed attempt to impose martial law, and of being guilty of “crime illegal”. “Unconstitutional and unconstitutional maneuvers” to continue governing.
South Korea descended into political chaos on Tuesday afternoon when Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly declared martial law, before being forced to repeal it six hours later under pressure from Parliament and the streets.
Deputies voted on an impeachment motion against him on Saturday, but it failed, as his People’s Power Party (PPP) boycotted and invalidated the vote due to lack of quorum.
The PPP later explained that it “obtained” from Yoon Suk Yeol, in exchange for this blockade, his “promise” to withdraw and leave the government to his party and the Prime Minister. “No matter how they try to justify it (…) this is a second act of rebellion and a second coup d’état, illegal and unconstitutional,” said Park Chan-dae, head of the Democratic Party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, devastated the Monday, in Parliament, largely won by the opposition.
South Korea’s Constitution stipulates that the president remains head of the government and armed forces unless he is unable to assume his duties (if he falls into a coma, for example), resigns or is impeached. In these cases, its authority passes to the Prime Minister until new elections are held.
Claiming that Yoon Suk Yeol can remain in office, ceding his powers to the Prime Minister and the PPP, is “a flagrant violation of the Constitution, without any legal basis,” criticized Park Chan-dae. The situation resembles a “silent coup,” Kim Hae-won, a professor of constitutional law at the National Law School in Busan, told AFP.
Various investigations in progress
The authorities already detained the former acting Minister of Defense during the unrest from Tuesday to Wednesday, searched his office, prohibited several officials from leaving the territory and summoned the commander of the short-lived martial law for questioning on Monday. . Yoon Suk Yeol is the subject of a police investigation for “rebellion.”
President Yoon himself could be summoned, police said on Monday, December 9, adding that they were “considering” banning him from leaving the territory, amid accelerating investigations. The police will carry out their investigations “in accordance with the law and regulations, without exceptions,” said Woo Jong-soo, head of investigations at the national police.
However, the Ministry of Defense stated that Yoon Suk Yeol remained at the head of the country’s security apparatus, highlighting the complexity of the political situation. “Legally, (control of the armed forces) is currently in the hands of the commander-in-chief (Yoon),” said Jeon Ha-kyou, a ministry spokesman.
A new impeachment attempt
Unpopular leader Yoon, 63, apologized last Saturday for declaring martial law, but did not resign. He then justified his coup by his “despair as president,” while Parliament torpedoed virtually all of his initiatives.
“I have caused anxiety and inconvenience to the public. I sincerely apologize,” Yoon Suk Yeol concluded before bowing deeply to the viewers.
On Tuesday night, in proclaiming martial law, he said he wanted to protect South Korea from “North Korean communist forces” and “eliminate elements hostile to the state.” Soldiers and police were deployed to seal Parliament, without preventing 190 deputies from entering to vote on the lifting of this state of emergency. In front of the institution, thousands of people gathered to demand Yoon Suk Yeol’s resignation.
On Saturday night, as the impeachment motion against him was being voted on, some 150,000 protesters gathered in front of Parliament, according to police. Organizers claimed an attendance of one million protesters.
The opposition has scheduled its new attempt to remove Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Saturday. New large-scale rallies are planned around the National Assembly. The president’s approval rating has hit a low of 11 percent, according to a new Gallup poll released Monday by local media outlets.
Source: BFM TV
