less than three months of the presidential election, the Democratic majority and the conservative opposition question the political consequences of the grace enjoyed by the former leader, who had been sentenced for corruption and abuse of power. .
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South Korean politicians welcomed the announcement, Friday, December 24, forgiveness granted by President Moon Jae-in to the one who had preceded him from 2013 to 2017 at the head of the head of the Country, Park Geun-Hye. The majority Democrat said “Respect” the presidential decision. Conservative opposition suspects a “maneuver” to weaken it. All parties are questioning its consequences as the presidential election of March 9, 2022.
“The forgiveness granted to the former president, who serves a twenty-two years of prison for corruption and abuse of power, is part of the New Year’s amnesty, which concerns this year 3 094 people. M Me Park has therefore benefited but not another former president, Lee Myung-Bak (2008-2013), behind bars for corruption and diversion of public funds. The decision is not exceptional. In 1997, Chun Doo-Hwan (1980-1988) and Roh Tae-Woo (1988-1993), two former presidents imprisoned for corruption, mutiny or murder, had been pardoned by the leader, Kim Young-Sam (1993-1998).
Park Geun-Hye, who was the first woman to lead South Korea, reacted to her forgiveness, apologizing for the public for the concerns aroused “. She also expressed her “deep gratitude to President Moon Jae-in and the government, who decided to grant grace despite the difficulties”. The Minister of Justice, Park Beom-Kye, justified the decision of Moon Jae-in by his desire to “strengthen national unity and to appease the conflicts” in this period of sanitary crisis due to CVIV-19 and to The approach of the presidential election.
Degradation of its health status
The deterioration of the prisoner’s state of health has also been taken into account. Hospitalized since November 22 at the Samsung Medical Center for orthopedic and dental problems, the former leader would also suffer psychological disorders. Since its incarceration in 2017 at Uiwang Prison, in the province of Gyeonggi, neighboring Seoul, it refuses any visit, with the exception of those of his lawyer. After his release, M me park should remain hospitalized for a while.
Forgiveness granted is not unanimous within the presidential camp. When he was a student, the democrat Moon Jae-in was imprisoned for militancy against the authoritarian power of Park Chung-Hee, leader from 1962 to 1979 and father of M me Park. Mr. Moon accessed the presidency in 2017 after the “candle revolution”, which mobilized millions of South Koreans to obtain the departure of M me park and the end of the corruption network put In place under its administration with the complicity of its confidante, Choi Soon, of the Samsung conglomerate or the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Mr. Moon then promised “a fair and equitable society”.
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