In South Korea, after the impeachment of the president by Parliament, the country is plunged into a political crisis without precedent for 40 years. Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, before withdrawing it under pressure from the streets and the opposition. Every evening since this coup, demonstrations have been organized in front of the National Assembly, because a first impeachment motion had failed, aggravating the anger of the people, before the second was adopted last Saturday.
From our correspondent in Seoul,
The challenges are numerous. The deposed president is under investigation for “rebellion”. Presidential immunity can do nothing against this charge. If he is found guilty, he risks life in prison, and even, theoretically, in the texts, the death penalty. Capital punishment is considered in fact abolished in South Korea since its last application dates back to 1997. The fate of Yoon Suk-yeol is in the hands of the Constitutional Court, which launched its procedure on Monday. The Court must examine the decision of the deputies. Last Saturday, Parliament adopted a dismissal motion against him, with 204 votes, including 12 from his own party.
Decision expected from the Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court has six months, maximum, to restore Yoon Suk-yeol to power or remove him permanently. For this, six judges out of the nine who make up the Court must rule in favor of dismissal. However, there are currently three vacant seats. The agreement of all six judges is therefore required to dismiss the president. But the opposition, with the Democratic Party, is doing everything to nominate candidates for vacant seats as quickly as possible, to maximize its chances of ousting Yoon Suk-yeol from power. While the presidential party, the Power People Party, is doing everything to slow down the process. Main argument: Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is acting as interim minister for the moment, would not have the power to appoint the judges that the National Assembly designates.
Also readSouth Korea: what future for the PPP after the dismissal of Yoon Suk-yeol?
Chain arrests
Han Duck-soo could also be arrested for complicity in the coup of December 3, when the president established martial law on the territory for six hours. Because since then, arrest warrants have been raining down on Yoon Suk-yeol’s trusted men. The commander in chief in charge during martial law was arrested yesterday, Tuesday. With three lieutenant generals and the former Minister of Defense, this is the fifth senior official that the police have arrested in the past two weeks.
The Prime Minister, also threatened with prosecution, continues to work on current affairs. If the court upholds Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, an election must be held within two months. The new president-elect will be inaugurated the day after the results. The deposed head of state is currently refusing to cooperate with the two investigations targeting him. He has been rejecting summons from South Korean justice since Sunday. The prosecutors in charge are threatening to arrest him if he does not appear by Saturday for questioning.
Also readImpeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol: South Korea enters a period of uncertainty
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