Decision to Withhold Appointment of Acting Authority Is an Infringement on Parliament's Election Rights
"Han Deok-su Must Fulfill Responsibilities According to Public Common Sense"
Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik stated on the 26th in the plenary session regarding the passage of the nomination of constitutional court justices Ma Eun-hyeok, Jeong Gye-seon, and Jo Han-chang, "There should be no controversy over the appointment procedure of the acting president," adding, "There must be no further national confusion caused by the execution of the procedures prescribed by law." This means that Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo has no reason to withhold the appointment of the constitutional court justices passed by the National Assembly.
Immediately after the constitutional court justice selection procedure was completed that day, Speaker Woo said, "Since the National Assembly's procedure for appointing constitutional court justices has ended, the acting president should promptly complete the appointment process," emphasizing, "There is no reason for controversy."
Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is holding a press conference for foreign media at Sarangjae, the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 19th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
He also said, "Regarding the three selected by the National Assembly and the three nominated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the president's appointment act is a formal procedural process rather than the creation of a new constitutional order, so the exercise of the acting president's appointment authority is the consensus interpretation among constitutional scholars," adding, "The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court have also expressed the same position."
He continued, "These three constitutional court justices were recommended through bipartisan agreement, so using bipartisan agreement as an excuse to delay the appointment process is unconvincing," and said, "It is also inappropriate. The appointment act was never a subject for bipartisan discussion in the first place, so asking for such an agreement is effectively a refusal to act and infringes on the National Assembly's constitutional right to select constitutional court justices."
Earlier, Acting President Han stated in a public address, "I will withhold the appointment of constitutional court justices until the ruling party and opposition submit an agreed proposal."
Speaker Woo said, "Tomorrow is the first preparatory hearing date for the presidential impeachment trial," adding, "It is appropriate and urgent to restore the normal operation of the nine-member constitutional court."
He further stated, "The normal operation of constitutional institutions is the way to resolve national uncertainty, and only when the nine-member system is complete can any decision, whether approval or rejection, minimize political and social turmoil after the impeachment trial."
Speaker Woo said, "Delaying or refusing the appointment of constitutional court justices selected by the National Assembly is unjustifiable," and added, "Acting President Han must fulfill his responsibilities in accordance with the constitution, laws, and common sense of the people."
Meanwhile, the Speaker's office has notified the government of the National Assembly's selection results of the three constitutional court justices.
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