PSPD: "Undermining Its Own Authority"
CCEJ: "Neglecting Responsibility as a Constitutional Institution"
Civil society criticized the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Deok-su as a "political ruling."
On the 24th, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) stated in a commentary, "This decision denies the principle of separation of powers," and added, "The Constitutional Court's decision this time is a political ruling, not based on the constitution and laws."
PSPD said, "Although the Constitutional Court acknowledged that the refusal to appoint the constitutionally recommended constitutional court justice candidates by the National Assembly was an act violating laws and the constitution, it did not recognize this as grounds for dismissal," and added, "This undermines the seriousness and authority of the court's own declaration of constitutional and legal violations."
The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) stated, "Despite the clear constitutional violation in the delay of appointing constitutional court justices, which violates the constitution and the National Public Officials Act, it is difficult to accept that the Constitutional Court did not even regard this as an 'act betraying the trust of the people,'" and added, "This can only be evaluated as a judgment influenced by political considerations, interpreting the dereliction of duty by public officials narrowly."
CCEJ said, "The Constitutional Court deferred or avoided judgment on key issues such as whether Prime Minister Han convened the State Council meeting related to martial law, citing lack of evidence proving active conduct or passive responsibility," and added, "It cannot avoid criticism for neglecting responsible interpretation as a constitutional institution on matters that could significantly affect the safety of the people and the constitutional order."
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