This Week in Politics
South Korean Impeachment
Once more South Korea has been embroiled in political turmoil as Acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached. Mr Han replaced President Yoon Suk Yeol following the former president's impeachment mere days ago, stemming from Mr Yoon's debacle of a martial law declaration worrying international partners and vitally bipartisan forces within the country. Acting President Han moved to reassure allies and financial markets that South Korea was stable and unswayable in the face of these challenges. His own impeachment raises severe questions among both partners and markets about the republic's current solidity.
"South Korea is now in a far more serious crisis of leadership and governance. The DP's political gambit is actually putting the country's economy and national security at grave risk," said the senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security Duyeon Kim.
Mr Han's fall partly derives from his unwillingness to appoint justices to the Constitutional Court that is set to rule a verdict on President Yoon's impeachment process. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, argues that filling the current vacancies would enhance fairness and public confidence in the trial.
Han Duck-soo's impeachment passed with a simple majority in the National Assembly, unlike Mr Yoon who needed a 2/3 majority. The People Power Party argues that this makes Mr Han's impeachment invalid as it would also require a 2/3 majority. Yet, this is uncharted territory and the Constitutional Court will weigh in, giving clarity to an unclear situation.
Acting President and Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok has filled the void and is now set to lead the nation through politically uncertain times. He is not immune from impeachment and must appease the Democratic Party. Moreover, reaffirming bridges both internally and globally will be high on the priority list for the new leader.
Trudeau's Troubles Deepen
Heightened calls for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation following Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's tumultuous exit, shaking Mr Trudeau's base when one of his longstanding allies departed from his cabinet, threatening an end to his near decade in power. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the vital coalition partner of Mr Trudeau's Liberal Party, has announced his intention to vote for a motion of no confidence in the next meeting of the House of Commons, in the coming year. This leaves Justin Trudeau with little option as he cannot muster a majority without the NDP unless other opposition parties showcase unprecedented support, which is very unlikely. The collapse of the Trudeau Government could bolster the already well-going Conservative Party, while simultaneously marking the end of the Liberal's long-running streak of government.
Reform UK Membership Surpasses Conservatives
Reform claims to have surpassed the Tories in terms of membership, compared with the Conservative party's membership count when Kemi Badenoch was elected its leader in late autumn. Nigel Farage's Reform asserts 131,680 members as of Boxing Day. In a move to mark the moment the party projected that Reform is the “real opposition” to Labour at the Conservative party headquarters during the night. Badenoch accused Reform of using “fake” members and “manipulating British voters,” stating her party had more members without providing exact numbers. Kemi Badenoch is “bitter, upset and angry that we are now the second biggest party in British politics, and that the Conservative brand is dying under [her] leadership,” Nigel Farage responded to Badenoch's accusation.
“The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world. Reform UK are now the real opposition,” Farage stated.
