[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The court has accepted the provisional injunction request to suspend the effect of the expulsion of Cha Myung-jin, the Gyeonggi Bucheon-byeong candidate, who was expelled from the United Future Party due to the 'Sewol Ferry slander' controversy.
On the 14th, Candidate Cha posted on his Facebook along with the court's acceptance statement, announcing, "My provisional injunction request has been accepted. I am officially a United Future Party candidate."
Previously, the United Future Party expelled Candidate Cha by resolution of the Supreme Council. Initially, they gave him a chance to complete the general election by recommending resignation as a disciplinary measure, but after successive slander controversies, they increased the severity of the discipline. Accordingly, Candidate Cha was deprived of his candidacy due to 'party membership withdrawal' under Article 52 of the Election Act.
In response, Candidate Cha filed a provisional injunction request with the court to suspend the effect of the expulsion, arguing that the Supreme Council's decision to finalize the discipline without going through the Ethics Committee violated procedural rules according to the party's constitution and regulations.
With the court accepting this, the effect of the expulsion is suspended until the judgment is finalized. It is highly likely that he will maintain his candidacy for the general election on the 15th.
The court stated, "The expulsion of a party member takes effect only when the Central Ethics Committee resolves the expulsion and the Supreme Council approves it," adding, "The United Future Party did not hold an Ethics Committee meeting, thus failing to follow the major procedural steps required by the regulations, and this defect is serious and clear," explaining the reason for acceptance.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
