Fierce Confrontation Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk
Democratic Party Urges Immediate Appointment if Ruled Unconstitutional
People Power Party Presses for Dismissal, Citing Political Bias and Procedural Flaws
On the morning of the 3rd, the day of the Constitutional Court's ruling on the authority dispute trial regarding the appointment hold of Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice candidate, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in sharp verbal confrontations. The Democratic Party of Korea assumed an unconstitutional ruling as a foregone conclusion and urged Acting President Choi Sang-mok to immediately appoint Ma, while the People Power Party pressured for the Constitutional Court to dismiss the case.
The Democratic Party believes that even if the Constitutional Court rules Ma's appointment hold by Acting President Choi as unconstitutional on that day, Choi may not immediately proceed with the appointment process. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, “If Acting President Choi does not immediately appoint Justice Ma despite the Constitutional Court's decision today, it is definitive proof that he is an accomplice to insurrection,” adding, “If he fails to take responsibility this time as well, the Democratic Party will have no choice but to take extraordinary measures.”
He continued, “There is no reason to show leniency to an accomplice who destroyed the constitution and democracy,” emphasizing, “Keep in mind that the Democratic Party's warnings have never been empty threats.”
Supreme Council member Jeon Hyun-hee also stated, “Acting President Choi has engaged in a constitutional disregard by selectively appointing Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly without any grounds. If he even refuses the Constitutional Court's decision, it is a clear violation of the constitution and law,” adding, “The Democratic Party will definitely hold him accountable.”
Spokesperson Han Min-soo told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, “Refusing to appoint a Constitutional Court justice is a clear dereliction of duty,” and said, “If the Constitutional Court issues an unconstitutional ruling today, Acting President Choi should immediately appoint candidate Ma.”
However, the Democratic Party is avoiding giving an explicit answer regarding the push for impeachment against Acting President Choi.
Earlier, Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's deputy floor leader, appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult’ and said, “It is difficult for me to speak on behalf of the Democratic Party leadership, but while some lawmakers believe Acting President Choi should be impeached, others feel burdened by impeachment,” adding, “I think it is appropriate to gather at the lawmakers' meeting at 1:30 p.m. today to hear the opinions of the members and organize the Democratic Party's stance.”
On the other hand, the People Power Party emphasized issues such as candidate Ma's political bias and procedural flaws in the appointment process, urging the Constitutional Court to dismiss the case.
At the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Emergency Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se said, “There are criticisms that the authority dispute trial request in the name of the National Assembly without going through the National Assembly's resolution itself does not comply with laws and precedents,” adding, “The Constitutional Court should rightly dismiss this trial due to serious procedural errors.”
The People Power Party also claimed there is a problem of political bias targeting candidate Ma and Constitutional Court justices belonging to the progressive-leaning judges' group, Uri Beop Yeonguhoe.
Chairman Kwon also argued, “If candidate Ma becomes a Constitutional Court justice, four out of the nine justices will be from Uri Beop Yeonguhoe,” adding, “Many citizens suspect that the Constitutional Court is siding with the Democratic Party to push for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-youl.”
The People Power Party's criticism of the Constitutional Court's political bias is interpreted as being mindful of the possibility that the impeachment motion against President Yoon might be accepted.
The Constitutional Court's ruling on whether Acting President Choi must appoint candidate Ma, who was elected by the National Assembly, will be announced at 2 p.m. that day.
Acting President Choi appointed only Jeong Gye-seon and Jo Han-chang, two of the three Constitutional Court justice candidates recommended by the National Assembly on December 31 last year, and held off on appointing candidate Ma, citing the lack of bipartisan agreement.
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