The Democratic Party called the government’s attempt to hand over power to the prime minister and party chief, leaving aside President Yoon Suk-yeol, an “illegal and unconstitutional act.” So far, however, the ruling People Power Party has offered no solution to the political deadlock. While the opposition tries to force the fight through legal channels.
Seoul (/Agencies) – The South Korean opposition accused the government, led by the People Power Party (PPP), of having carried out a “second coup d’état.” After refusing to approve the motion of impeachment against President Yoon Suk-yeol, who had proclaimed (and then revoked) martial law, members of the conservative party called for an “orderly” departure of the president, who would have agreed to shorten his term and not interfere in external and internal affairs.
His powers, according to PPP deputies, would now have passed to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (whom the opposition has already asked to be investigated) and the head of the party. Park Chan-dae, leader of the Democratic Party, which since April has controlled the National Assembly, the Parliament of South Korea, stated that it is an illegal and unconstitutional act.
Under South Korea’s Constitution, the president remains head of the government and commander-in-chief of the military unless he becomes incapacitated, resigns or abandons office. Only in these cases can power be transferred – provisionally, until elections are held – to the prime minister. The South Korean legal experts agree in that a president cannot delegate his authority while in office. To suspend presidential powers, the only option would be impeachment, which was however rejected over the weekend.
The People Power Party has thus caused a political stagnation of which seems unable to leave (also due to divisions within the party) and that could lead to other actions outside the laws. If Yoon Suk-yeol were toppled, elections would have to be called within 60 days and would likely mean the conservative party would lose power. For months now, the president’s approval ratings have already fallen to around 25%.
Until now it has not been enough to sacrifice as a scapegoat the former Minister of Defense, Kim Yong-hyun, who in recent days submitted his resignation assuming “full responsibility” for the proclamation of martial law. Several officials in the presidential office also left their positions, and yesterday the Minister of the Interior did so.
To further complicate the situation, this morning the Ministry of Defense confirmed that it is the president’s responsibility to command the armed forces, so in the event of foreign policy incidents (for example, with North Korea), he should theoretically continue Yoon being the one who must make executive decisions.
An unacceptable circumstance for the opposition, which is trying to force a fight with the Government through legal means. A parliamentary committee today approved a bill (to be voted on tomorrow in the National Assembly) to appoint a permanent special prosecutor (a role the president cannot veto) to investigate treason allegations against Yoon.
The list of those investigated, along with Yoon, the former Minister of Defense and the former Chief of the Army Staff, Park An-su, has also included Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the head of counterintelligence operations, Yeo In-hyung, and Choo Kyung. -ho, leader of the PPP.
After the revocation of martial law, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung had said his party will continue to propose impeachment motions every week. Today he once again urged the president to resign, stating that Yoon’s actions are “destroying” the country and the economy. In addition to the collapse of Korean stocks on the stock market (with closing prices at the lowest levels ever recorded since the beginning of the year), the Korean Times reported that there was concern about arms export contracts, because Kyrgyzstan and Sweden (and soon Poland could also join) have already canceled some meetings scheduled for the coming days.
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