Yoon Suk Yeol becomes South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial (www.lemonde.fr)
from MicroWave@lemmy.world to world@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 10:32
https://lemmy.world/post/25825827

Summary

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the country’s first sitting leader to stand trial on criminal charges after his impeachment and arrest for allegedly attempting to impose martial law.

Prosecutors accuse him of insurrection, which could carry a life sentence or the death penalty. His lawyers argue the charges lack legitimacy, claiming martial law was within his presidential authority.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to formally remove him from office, with a decision expected within weeks.

If removed, new presidential elections must be held within 60 days.

#world

threaded - newest

nick@midwest.social on 20 Feb 11:03 next collapse

Welcome to the club!

miseducator@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 11:23 collapse

What club is that?

octopus_ink@lemmy.ml on 20 Feb 12:00 collapse

Not one the US is in. We elect our presidents after they stage an insurrection.

PugJesus@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 11:20 next collapse

An example of how the rule of law is supposed to work

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 12:42 collapse

Ye, the US should consider the same in light of current events. If the totally incorruptible Supreme Court continues to insist that the president is a god-king who is above the law, appropriate measures should be considered if at least a semblance of democracy is to be preserved.

Jericho_Kane@lemmy.org on 20 Feb 16:29 collapse

I’m always flabbergasted that America got conned by this guy. Like not some vharismatic smart sweet talker, no. Donald fucking Trump. A fat guy in a diaper who can’t really reaf or talk that well and never had a smart tgought in his life.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 17:06 next collapse

I feel the same way, but unfortunately I’m not so sure that it won’t be similar in my home country. I’m from Germany and there’s an election this weekend. Unfortunately, I fear that the AfD, a neo-Nazi party pretty similar to MAGA, will do very well. It probably won’t be as bad as in the US, but there are unfortunately many incredible stupid people all around the world. It’s the same song in many countries: braindead xenophobic slogans to hide the fact that it’s all about making the richest even richer.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 17:24 collapse

I very much worry that the rest of the world will be following the US into a fascist abyss. We’re rightfully being condemned by people in other countries, but they should also pay attention to their governments at home. When Germany no longer has many qualms about putting far-right people in power, you know the world is in big trouble.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 17:39 collapse

I couldn’t agree more.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 17:46 collapse

I’ll be watching the results this weekend and hoping you guys are smarter than we were!

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 17:55 collapse

Thank you, I hope so too. And you’re absolutely right: if not even the Germans have learned from their terrible history, then it probably won’t be any different anywhere else. Honestly, I’m ashamed of my fellow countrymen. We really should know better.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 18:07 collapse

The bright side is you’ll always have Americans to look down on! No American can point to Germany’s past and claim any kind of superiority ever again.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 18:42 collapse

Well, that’s the problem. Until a few years ago, it was unthinkable in Germany that Nazis would have any say in politics. That has changed with Trump and his minions. The rhetoric in the States has led to openly xenophobic slogans and the associated ideology becoming socially acceptable again. This is because Germany has been strongly oriented towards the US since the end of the Second World War. Unfortunately, your plutocrats have now discovered fascism for themselves, because it’s a way to make money (over dead bodies). I would never have thought it possible that Nazi ideology could become popular again in Germany. But unfortunately we are very much oriented towards the US. Nevertheless, it is all the worse that my compatriots do not remember, that they seem to have forgotten all the atrocities and crimes against humanity. One would think that we should have learned from all the suffering that happened not so long ago. We should know better, because we should know how absurd and immoral this despicable ideology is. But my fellow countrymen are unteachable, as I said, I am ashamed of them.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 18:58 collapse

Yes, American influence has unfortunately infected the world with fascist tendencies. I think it’s a natural progression from unfettered capitalism. Our extreme greed was our downfall.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 19:43 collapse

I think it’s not just the US, but the logic by which we determine who is particularly recognized in society. The fact that our leaders are not the best educated, or the creative and artistic, is not just the fault of US capitalism, I think - its triumph has only reinforced established tendencies, I’m afraid. Capitalism has produced a new aristocracy, just like before the French Revolution. But that is nothing new. Even in recent times that is not only the fault of the US-Capitalism, because this is also real in other systems. It seems to me to be a general human error that is consistent around the world. It may be conspiracy theorizing, but I believe that Trump is flirting with Putin because they have the same interests - power in society. I think the next few years will be about throwing off the yoke of oppression, no matter which system imposes it on you. Getting back what belongs to everyone, what everyone should be entitled to. The right to a life worth living. Capitalism just seems to have forgotten that, as have many other systems that claim to be the right one.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 19:54 collapse

That’s true, capitalism plays to the innate human tendency to want to acquire things and have power over others. But man, the US really turned it up to 11! I’m afraid that the grip of the oligarchs is too powerful to be overthrown by anything other than societal collapse, but I hope I’m wrong.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 20:00 collapse

I wish you all the best and will let you know how our election turns out.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 20:06 collapse

Same here! I lived in Germany for 10 years and often wish I’d never left nowadays.

DandomRude@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 20:24 collapse

Ahh, damn, I really wish we were more hospitable. But yes, good luck to us both, let’s hope it doesn’t get too dark on Sunday. I really hope so.

samus12345@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 21:08 collapse

I mean I wish I hadn’t left Germany considering how the US has turned out! It was a lovely country and I was there for the fall of the wall and got to visit Eastern Germany (which I understand is a large part of where the far-right support comes from now…kind of like the US South).

catloaf@lemm.ee on 20 Feb 17:18 collapse

He represents the American people.

Majorllama@lemmy.world on 20 Feb 18:42 collapse

Criminal presidents are so in right now.