South Korea: President Yoon pushed out after his short-lived martial law

Yoon Suk Yeol's days as leader of South Korea are numbered. After attempting to impose martial law on Tuesday, the president plunged his country into a political crisis. Voices are now being raised to demand his resignation, in particular from the opposition which has filed a motion for dismissal against him.

“We will file a complaint for rebellion“against the president, his ministers of Defense and the Interior and”key figures in the army and police, such as the martial law commander (army general) and the police chief“, declared the main opposition party (Democratic Party). The latter, associated with five other parties, tabled a motion for dismissal. The deputies will later decide the date of its vote, which could take place as early as Friday.

“All those responsible will have to be held accountable”

Yoon Suk Yeol is also contested within his group, the People Power Party. “The president must explain this tragic situation immediately and in detail“, declared the head of his formation, Han Dong-hoon, on television, emphasizing that “all those responsible will be held accountable“The first circle of power is already impacted: the president's chief of staff and important advisors have this morning”presented their resignation en masse“, according to the national Yonhap agency.

Yoon Suk Yeol, whose popularity rating was already extremely low, threw his country into crisis by announcing the establishment of martial law during a surprise speech. In the context of difficulties in adopting the budget, he justified the measure on Tuesday by saying he wanted “eliminate elements hostile to the state” et “protecting liberal South Korea from threats posed by communist North Korean forces”.

He “signed his own end to power”

Soon after, troops were deployed and army helicopters landed on the roof of Parliament, but MPs were able to convene in a hurry to pass a resolution demanding the repeal of the measure, to which the president ended up. by resolving itself after several hours. Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered in front of Parliament to demand the withdrawal of the text and Yoon's resignation. The demonstrations will also continue: the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the largest inter-union organization in the country with its approximately 1.2 million members, has called for a “unlimited general strike“until the resignation of the person who “signed his own end to power”.

• Read also

  Martial law declared, Parliament closed: what is happening in South Korea?

The imposition of martial law, a first in more than 40 years in the country, involved the suspension of political life as well as the closure of Parliament and the placing under control of the media. This announcement generated concern and disapproval around the world, particularly from the United States, Seoul's main ally against North Korea, and from China.