Democracy in crisis: South Korea’s suspended President Yoon arrested

Democracy in crisis: South Korea’s suspended President Yoon arrested

Democracy in crisis
South Korea’s suspended President Yoon arrested






At the beginning of December, Yoon briefly declared martial law – and plunged his country into crisis. After weeks of testing strength, he is now being taken away for interrogation. Before doing so, he sends a video message.

South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested in the capital Seoul in early December because of the brief declaration of martial law. Police officers and investigators from the Anti-Corruption Agency (CIO) arrested Yoon at his residence on Wednesday morning to take him to the prosecutor’s office. Despite major security concerns, the arrest appeared to be peaceful.

Since December, Yoon had barricaded himself in his presidential residence, where high walls, barbed wire fences and his security detail protected him from arrest. In addition, masses of supporters took to the streets to stand up for him. Now a convoy of black SUVs accompanied by a police escort left the presidential compound in central Seoul. Yoon’s interrogation by investigators began in the morning, as the official Yonhap news agency reported.

The anti-corruption authority is investigating allegations that the 64-year-old, who briefly imposed martial law at the beginning of December, was guilty of sedition and abuse of power through his actions. The investigators have a maximum of 48 hours for the interrogation. They must then either request a formal arrest of the suspended president or release him.

In a video message recorded before his arrest, Yoon described the investigation against him as illegal. He nevertheless decided to agree to be questioned by the anti-corruption authority in order to avoid violent confrontations. He also claimed that the rule of law in South Korea had actually completely collapsed.

Opposition calls Yoon a “felon”

The leader of the largest opposition party, Park Chan Dae, described Yoon’s arrest as a “first step” towards restoring constitutional order and the rule of law in the country, as Yonhap reported. Park described the suspended president as a “felon.”

It is the first time in the country’s history that a formal sitting president of South Korea has been held accountable in this way. In addition to the investigations by the anti-corruption authority, impeachment proceedings against Yoon are also underway at the Constitutional Court. After he failed to appear in court at the first hearing on Tuesday, the next trial date was postponed to Thursday.

Martial law as a means to protect democracy?

Yoon had, completely unexpectedly, briefly declared martial law on December 3rd in the course of a budget dispute with the opposition – a step that he withdrew a few hours later under great pressure – and thus plunged the democratic country into a state crisis. Special military forces were ordered by Yoon to cordon off the National Assembly. He also reportedly ordered the arrests of several politicians. His actions led to mass protests in South Korea and criticism from abroad.

After a failed first vote, Parliament finally voted for Yoon’s removal from office, with some votes from his own ruling party. The Constitutional Court will examine this decision in the coming weeks. At least six of the eight judges currently occupied at the Constitutional Court would have to vote for impeachment for this to happen. In this case, new elections would have to be held within 60 days. Otherwise, the suspended president would regain his power.

Yoon defended the imposition of martial law until the end as a legitimate means of protecting democracy. The suspended president described the opposition as a collection of “anti-state forces” that would disrupt the country’s constitutional order and paralyze the state’s basic functions. He also accused the political left of sympathizing with its hostile neighbor North Korea.

dpa

Source: Stern

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