An elected leader who tries to seize absolute power through a military coup commits the most serious political transgression that can take place in a democracy.

In December 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol attempted just such a coup to overcome opposition in the National Assembly that he called “anti-state” and blamed for the country’s political paralysis. In the face of Yoon’s declaration of martial law, that same opposition was not at all paralyzed when it mobilized in defense of Korea’s democratic state. Once they made it past police barricades and into the parliament building, Korean legislators repealed the martial law declaration.

Yoon was impeached, removed from office, and arrested. A court in Korea recently sentenced him to life in prison.

Yoon is not the only elected leader who is sitting in jail after a failed coup attempt. In November, Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro began the 27-year-year prison sentence he received for launching a coup attempt to remain in office after his term ended. Since he is 70 years old, he is effectively serving a life sentence.

Some leaders, initially elected to office, have stayed in power through more gradual consolidations of authority. Vladimir Putin has been Russia’s top leader for more than a quarter century, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled Turkey since 2003. Nayib Bukele has been Salvadoran president only since 2019, but the 44-year-old changed the constitution so that he can be leader for life.

In contrast to Korea and Brazil, there is currently no accountability in Russia, Turkey, or El Salvador. The leaders there can act with impunity. They do not fear electoral recall or any penalties for wrongdoing. These........

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