Conflict Over Constitutional Court Justice Appointment
Opposition Increases Pressure with Rallies and Other Actions
The ruling and opposition parties are clashing over the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice nominee. The Democratic Party of Korea has even raised the possibility of impeaching Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, escalating the pressure. Since an impeachment motion against former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok was already filed on the 21st of last month with the cooperation of the five opposition parties, there is also speculation about a 'double impeachment' involving both the current and former acting presidents.
On the morning of the 1st, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, and other party leaders held an emergency press conference in front of the Gwanghwamun Government Seoul Office, where Acting President Han's office is located, stating, "This is the final warning. Han Duck-soo (Acting President and Prime Minister) must fulfill his duty to uphold the Constitution."
Earlier, Floor Leader Park had warned that if Acting President Han did not appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice nominee by that day, the party would take a 'serious decision.' If National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik responds to the Democratic Party's request to convene a plenary session on that day, an impeachment motion against Acting President Han could be submitted.
The People Power Party, for now, maintains a stance of 'absolutely no' regarding Ma's appointment. They criticize Ma's ideological bias and go beyond opposing the appointment to demand the nominee's voluntary withdrawal. Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, called Ma "a left-wing activist in legal robes" and urged, "What Ma needs is not an appointment but resignation."
They also brought up the card of nominating successors for Constitutional Court justices. The government and ruling party plan to discuss and appoint successors for Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-seon, who hold the president's quota. Floor Leader Kwon said, "If by any chance the Democratic Party initiates another impeachment against Acting President Han for political reasons, the government and ruling party will consult and reach a conclusion on how to respond." This is interpreted as a countermeasure suggesting that before the opposition party pushes for Acting President Han's re-impeachment and suspension from duty, Han could proceed with the appointment process for the Constitutional Court justice.
Yoo Sang-beom, the People Power Party's secretary-general on the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, claimed at the party's strategy meeting that "The amendment to the Constitutional Court Act, which artificially changes the composition of the Constitutional Court to approve President Yoon's impeachment, is clearly unconstitutional."
If the double impeachment actually occurs, the authority of the acting president will pass to Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho, who is the Deputy Prime Minister for Education. However, it is uncertain whether Deputy Prime Minister Lee will proceed with Ma's appointment.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a subcommittee meeting the day before and passed an amendment to the Constitutional Court Act that prevents the acting president from appointing a Constitutional Court justice nominee from the president's quota.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
