S Korea’s government hanging onto power in what the opposition calls a 'second coup'
The Democratic Party slams the government for trying to sideline President Yoon Suk yeol by handing power over to the prime minister and to the governing party’s leader, calling it an “illegal, unconstitutional act”. The People Power Party has failed so far to find a solution to the political stalemate, while the opposition is using legal channels to force its hand.
Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – South Korea's opposition has accused the government, led by the People Power Party (PPP), of staging a "second coup".
After refusing to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, who had proclaimed (and then revoked) martial law, members of the right-wing party called for an "orderly" exit of the president, who is said to have agreed to shorten his term and not meddle in foreign and domestic affairs.
His powers, again according to the PPP, will be vested in the prime minister, Han Duck-so (whom the opposition also wants to be investigated), and to the PPP leader.
Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae slammed the "illegal, unconstitutional act". Since April, his party has a majority in the country’s National Assembly.
Under South Korea’s constitution, the president is head of state and of government as well as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces unless he is incapacitated, resigns or steps down. Only in these circumstances is power provisionally transferred to the prime minister before fresh elections are held.
South Korean legal experts are of the opinion that a president cannot delegate his authority while in office. To suspend presidential powers, the only option is impeachment; however, a motion to this effect was defeated over the weekend in the National Assembly.
The PPP is thus stuck in a political stalemate of its own making (largely a product of internal divisions), which could lead to more inconsiderate actions.
If Yoon Suk yeol is removed, elections would have to be called within 60 days and for the PPP it would probably mean a wipeout.
For months, the president’s approval ratings were already low, around 25 per cent.
So far, using former Minister of Defence Kim Yong-hyun as the sacrificial lamb has not helped, nor has the president’s statement assuming "full responsibility" for the martial law.
Several officials in the President’s Office have also quit; yesterday the Minister of the Interior also quit.
To further complicate the situation, the Ministry of Defence confirmed this morning that the president is still the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, with the power, in theory, to make executive decisions in the event of foreign policy incidents (for example, with North Korea).
For the opposition, this is unacceptable, which is why it is trying to force the hand of the government through legal channels.
A parliamentary committee today approved a bill (to be voted on tomorrow in the National Assembly) to appoint a permanent special prosecutor – an action the president cannot veto – to investigate allegations of treason against Yoon.
In addition to the president, the former Minister of Defence, and the former Chief of Staff of the Army, General Park An-su, the list of would-be suspects includes Prime Minister Han Duck-so, the head of counterintelligence operations, Lieutenant General Yeo In-hyung, and PPP Floor leader Choo Kyung-ho.
After martial law was revoked, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said that his party would continue to push for impeachment every week. Today he once again urged the president to step down, arguing that his actions are "destroying" the country and the economy.
In addition to rattling South Korean financial markets and stock exchange (closing at its lowest since the start of the year), the Korea Times reports concern over the country’s military exports, after Kyrgyzstan and Sweden (but Poland could be next) cancelled some meetings scheduled in the coming days.
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