“The declaration of martial law was born out of desperation”

7 (EUROPA PRESS)

The president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, asked this Saturday for “sincere apologies for the anxiety and inconvenience” following the controversy that arose with the approval on Tuesday of martial law, a measure that was later revoked by the country’s Parliament. and has left it in the hands of his party to “stabilize the political situation.”

“The declaration of martial law was born out of desperation as president,” said the president, in statements reported by the South Korean Yonhap news agency.

Yoon has also stressed that “there will never be a second martial law.” “I sincerely apologize for the anxiety and inconvenience to people,” he lamented.

Likewise, he has made it clear that he will not evade “the legal and political responsibility related to martial law.” “I leave it in the hands of the party to figure out how to stabilize the political situation, even during my term,” Yoon said.

PARTY LEADER’S REACTION

For his part, the leader of the People’s Power Party, the party to which the president belongs, Han Dong Hoon, has stated after the president’s statements that his “early resignation is inevitable.” “We will discuss and consider the best way for Korea and its people in the future,” he told reporters, according to Yonhap.

“It is a situation in which it is impossible for the president to perform his duties normally,” he added.

These statements come after Han asked on Wednesday that the president leave the formation following Yoon’s controversial decision to declare martial law that was later revoked by Parliament, and which led to the resignation of Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun. who accepted “full responsibility for what happened.”

Yoon announced martial law in an unexpected address to the nation in which he accused the opposition of sympathizing with North Korea after opponents – who have a majority in Parliament – pushed forward a budget measure and presented motions dismissal against several senior officials.

‘IMPEACHMENT’ PROMOTED BY THE OPPOSITION

The opposition parties have initiated procedures to initiate a political trial in Parliament, although the ruling party has clarified that it will not support it. The leader of the South Korean opposition, Lee Jae Myung, stated last Thursday that the president will be removed from office within the framework of this impeachment process in Parliament, with an opposition majority.

The leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the main promoter of the president’s impeachment process, has admitted that it will be difficult to gain the necessary support to achieve Yoon’s departure this week, but has pointed out that his removal is “a simple matter of time.” , according to information collected by Yonhap.

For the measure to pass in the Lower House, the support of two-thirds of the deputies is necessary, which means the vote in favor of 200 of the 300 legislators. For the vote to be valid, more than half of the parliamentarians must be present.

Currently, Yoon’s People’s Power Party has 108 seats compared to the opposition’s 192, so if all the deputies of the government party vote against the motion, the initiative will be rejected.

The impeachment process has been opened following the request of the six opposition parties, which presented the measure this Wednesday after revoking the martial law imposed the previous day by the president, who accused the opponents of maintaining positions close to North Korea. for blocking his budget measures and seeking the dismissal of several prosecutors.

“The problem is that some deputies from Yoon’s party are willing to vote in favor, but that would mean breaking party discipline and would put them in a difficult situation,” Lee said. However, he asserted that the president “will be removed, whether in one day, two, a week, a month or three months.”