UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – After the short-lived martial law imposed by the president, his camp demands accountability, the opposition wants to dismiss him, and the country’s largest union called for an “unlimited general strike” until his departure.
Yoon Suk Yeol, whose popularity rating was already extremely low, declared martial law in a surprise speech on Tuesday, accusing the opposition of forming “forces hostile to the state”. It was in particular a conflict over the adoption of its budget in Parliament, where the presidential camp is in the minority, which ignited the powder.
Yoon finally decided in the evening to announce on television the lifting of martial law and the withdrawal of troops deployed in the capital. Le Figaro takes stock of the situation.
Yoon Suk Yeol “severely and extensively violated the constitution”
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol “seriously and widely violated the constitution” and also sought to escape a criminal investigation targeting him, by attempting to impose martial law in his country, indicates the text of the impeachment motion targeting him.
His decision is motivated by “a desire to escape criminal investigations involving President Yoon and his family”et “without any of the constitutional prerequisites such as the presence of war, armed rebellion or comparable national emergency” specifies the text of which AFP obtained a copy, submitted by six opposition parties.
Dispersed demonstrations
The demonstration in front of the Korean presidential palace in Seoul dispersed without violence on Wednesday evening, noted AFP photographers present on site.
Thousands of people marched in Seoul on Wednesday to demand the removal of conservative President Yook Suk Yeol after his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country on Tuesday night. During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, demonstrators proclaimed: “Stop Yoon Suk Yeol!”noted AFP journalists. “Why did we have to come here after working all day, in the middle of the week?”shouted a demonstrator. “It’s because of this insane martial law decreed by Yoon, who has gone crazy”cried another protester, cheered by hundreds of people.
Under banners bearing the inscription “Yoon Suk Yeol must resign”the demonstrators marched down the main avenue of the Korean capital towards the National Assembly and to meet another parade organized by the opposition parties, noted AFP journalists. Live footage shows thousands of protesters heading towards President Yoon Suk Yeol’s offices and residence
Opposition parties announce filing of impeachment motion
Opposition parties in South Korea’s parliament announced Wednesday that they had filed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol after his failed attempt to impose martial law.
The deputies will later decide the date of the vote on this motion, which could take place as early as Friday, indicated the six opposition parties during a joint press conference.
Defense Minister offers his resignation
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun apologized Wednesday and offered to resign.
“I deeply regret and take full responsibility for the confusion and concern caused to the public by martial law” et “I offered my resignation to the president”announced Kim Yong-hyun in a press release.
Reactions around the world
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.
Russia said “hope” that the political crisis in South Korea will not destabilize the entire Korean peninsula. “We are following with concern the tragic events unfolding in South Korea. We hope that they will not affect the socio-political situation of the Korean Peninsula as a whole.declared the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, during her weekly briefing.
The opposition demands the “resignation” of the president
The main opposition party demanded the “resignation” of Yoon and threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against him if he did not hand it over “immediately”. “We are going to file a complaint for rebellion” against Yoon, his ministers of Defense and Interior and “key figures in the army and police, such as the martial law commander (army general, editor’s note) and the police chief”, the Democratic Party said in a statement.
The president’s camp demands accountability
The president must explain this tragic situation immediately and in detail. »
Han Dong-hoon, head of the People’s Power Party
His own camp, the People Power Party, has stressed that its leader will be held accountable. “The president must explain this tragic situation immediately and in detail,” the head of his party, Han Dong-hoon, declared on television, stressing that “all those responsible will have to be held accountable”. The president’s chief of staff and key aides have in the morning “presented their resignation en masse”according to the national Yonhap agency.
Call for strike
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the largest inter-union organization in the country with some 1.2 million members, called for a “unlimited general strike” until Yoon resigned, believing that he had “signed his own end to power”.
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