South Korea’s opposition on Monday accused the ruling party of committing a “second coup” by seizing power and failing to impeach President Yoon Seok-yul for declaring martial law.
Yun’s attempt to end civilian control sparked political turmoil in the country, but it was short-lived as parliamentarians fought the military in the parliament building within hours and rejected the move. Which forced Yoon to make a humiliating U-turn.
The president and several top officials are now being investigated for a coup, but an impeachment attempt to impeach Yun failed on Saturday after a boycott by the ruling party, which claims the deeply unpopular leader has handed power to the prime minister and party chief. Has agreed to handover.
Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae urged the ruling party to “immediately stop this,” adding, “This is an illegal, unconstitutional act of second coup and second coup.”
Under the South Korean constitution, the president remains the head of government and commander-in-chief of the military until he is incapacitated, resigns, or resigns.
In such a case, power will be handed over to the Prime Minister on an interim basis, until elections are held.
Park said that claiming that Yoon could remain in office but ceded his powers to the prime minister and the leader of his ruling People’s Power Party — who are not elected officials — was “a blatant constitutional violation.” There is no legal basis”.
“His attitude of putting himself above the constitution mirrors that of the rebel Yoon Seok-yul,” he added.
Investigators have already detained the former defense minister, raided his offices, slapped several top officials with travel bans, and on Monday summoned a general who was marshaled for further questioning. Law Commander was made.
Yoon himself may be called in for questioning, police said on Monday, adding that they were “considering” whether to impose a travel ban on him as their investigation continued. It has accelerated.
“There are no human or physical restrictions on the subject of the investigation,” said Wu Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency.
The police will investigate “in accordance with the law and the rules – without exception”.
Who controls the armed forces?
The defense ministry confirmed on Monday that the embattled Yun heads the security apparatus of the country – which is technically at war with the nuclear-armed North – despite a clear power vacuum in the country.
“Legally, (control of the military forces) currently rests with the commander-in-chief,” Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Hakyo said.
Yoon, 63, has apologized for the “distress and inconvenience” his martial law announcement has caused but has not resigned, saying he will instead leave the decisions of his own fate to his party – and martial law. will accept all political and legal responsibility for the failure of .
There is no constitutional basis to support the ruling party’s claim that Yoon can remain in office but cede power to unelected party officials, said Kim Hye-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University Law School. .
It amounted to an unconstitutional soft coup, he told AFP.
“If there are problems with the president, there are procedures in the constitution, such as suspending the president from his duties, and then proceeding to the procedures specified in the constitution, such as impeachment,” he said.
The opposition has already said it will try again to impeach the president, with leader Lee Jae-myung saying another vote will be held on Saturday.
Huge crowds are expected to gather outside the National Assembly building once again.
Yun’s approval rating fell to 11 percent, a historic low for an unpopular president, according to a new Gallup poll conducted by local media.