The term impeachment is sometimes used in political sections of news releases. What it is? This concept means the removal from power of the head of state at the behest of parliament and society. In the modern world, this phenomenon is quite rare.
Etymology
In many languages, the English concept of "impeachment" has successfully taken root. What is this literally? It comes from the verb impedicare (interfere, obstruct), has a Latin root. Sometimes the word "impeachment" is mistakenly associated with the Latin impetere (attack, attack). Verbs derived from a given root exist in English and French.
This term has a wide meaning and is used not only in the political sphere. For example, the expression "impeachment of a witness" describes a situation in legal practice in which the reliability of evidence in a court is called into question.
General concept
Impeachment refers to the process of bringing charges against senior officials, usually those who are immune from prosecution. This is a formal procedure that does not imply the immediate removal of a statesman from his duties. Political or legal consequences may not come at all for the official who was impeached. What is this compared to the standard criminal prosecution process? Justice is always based on a simple principle: a suspect is only punished if the charges are proven. Impeachment is the first step towards bringing to justice an official who violates official laws or unwritten moral standards.
History of occurrence
For the first time, such a procedure was applied in the British political system. In the second half of the 14th century, the English parliament accused Baron Latimer of corruption and stripped him of all government posts. This was the first documented case of a decision by the country's legislature to declare impeachment an important state dignitary.
United States Constitution
Following the British example, many North American states have created a mechanism to bring charges against abusive high-ranking officials. At the end of the 18th century, this procedure was included in the constitutions of Virginia and Massachusetts. Impeachment in the United States was limited only to suspension from government duties and did not address the issue of criminal liability. Currently, the first chapter of the American constitution provides for the procedure for the removal from power of presidents, ministers and federal judges. The reason sufficient for impeachment is treason, corruption or other serious criminal acts and misconduct. The latter definition is not clear and can be interpreted differently depending on the political situation.
Theory and Reality
Legislation of most countries of the world provides for impeachment. What is it from the point of view of practical application? It must be admitted that in some political systems the procedure of renunciation of power exists only on paper. The absence of an independent parliament makes impeachment impossible. Recent history knows few cases of successful application of this procedure in practice with respect to heads of state.
Examples
In 1992, Fernando Color di Melo was accused of corruption and, by decision of the Parliament, removed from the post of President of Brazil. He was not prosecuted, but for many years lost the opportunity to engage in political activities.
In 2000, Congress of Peru voted to remove President Alberto Fujimori from power. The head of state was charged with organizing the so-called "death squads" (armed units intended for extrajudicial killings). Fujimori has lost power and is currently serving a practically life-long prison sentence.
The only leader of the European state who left his post as a result of impeachment was the President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas. In 2004, the politician was accused of having links with representatives of mafia structures. The parliament of the republic prematurely relieved him of the duties of the head of state. However, this did not prevent Rolandas Paksas from pursuing a political career and even becoming a member of the European Parliament.
One recent example of impeachment is the scandal surrounding South Korean President Park Geun-hye. In 2016, parliament and the constitutional court decided to suspend its powers due to allegations of corruption and the use of shamans and fortunetellers as advisers on state governance. After Park Geun-hye lost her immunity from prosecution, she was arrested at the request of South Korean prosecutors.