South Korea’s ousted former president Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday that he is leaving the conservative People Power Party (PPP).

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, the announcement comes as the PPP’s presidential candidate is trailing badly in the polls behind liberal Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung ahead of the June 3 snap election.

According to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, 29 percent of respondents supported PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo, compared to 51 percent for frontrunner Lee.

Yoon, whose surprise declaration of martial law in December and subsequent ouster by impeachment triggered the snap election, had been under pressure from party members to step aside in order to win back moderate voters who disapproved of his actions.

“I am leaving the People Power Party to fulfill my responsibility to protect the free Republic of Korea... Please lend your support to Kim Moon-soo,” Yoon wrote, referring to South Korea’s official name.

Candidates Lee and Kim are set to face off in their first televised debate on Sunday.