The opposition in South Korea is said to have, among other things, denied the president’s budget proposal.
This is believed to be a reason for the state of emergency in the country.
– It has paralyzed the government and the government discussion. So it is not surprising that the president is trying to do something, says Niklas Swanström, head of the Institute for Security Policy.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol gave an hour-long speech in which he announced that he would impose martial law or a special state of emergency to protect the country. In the speech, he also accused the political opposition of sympathizing with North Korea.
The state of emergency may be a response to the fact that the opposition has blocked much of the president’s policy, says Niklas Swanström, who is director of the Institute for Security Policy.
“He doesn’t have the power base he wants”
– The opposition has a majority in parliament and they have, among other things, refused to approve the budget. It has paralyzed the government and the government discussion, so it is no wonder that the president is trying to do something. But this was perhaps a step too far, says Niklas Swanström and continues:
– It seems that he is trying to use this to limit the opposition and strengthen his own power, because he doesn’t have the power base he would like to have.
Later on Tuesday, 190 out of 300 members voted for the martial law decision to be lifted.
– I feel this is a domestic political move, that there is more focus on his own power base, but this has obviously gone less well. The opposition but also parts of his own party seem to be going against him. That is why Parliament has lifted the state of emergency.
South Korea’s parliament speaker, Woo Won-Shik, has urged the police and military not to act on this. But even though parliament has voted to repeal the laws, they will remain in place until the president repeals them, the military says according to YTN.
– This looks like a power struggle between the parliament and the president.
In the late 1980s, South Korea went from being an authoritarian state to a democracy. Swanström does not think the state of emergency will have any impact among South Koreans.
– Many of those who fought on the barricades to get this change react very strongly to this and really don’t want to go back to the old days. So I think this has a very weak impact on the general public.
“My guess: I think he will be allowed to resign”
What will happen next, Swanström does not know, but he believes that the president may have to resign.
– Will he be able to stay? What will happen? Will there be a re-election? I dare not answer that at this time. I wouldn’t be surprised if everything is resolved when we wake up tomorrow. But the question is how this has been resolved.
– My guess is that they will go against the president’s actions, and that they will lift the state of emergency, with the consequence that he may have to resign.
Yesterday 22:12