From TV screens you can often hear the word “impeachment”. What are these simple words? Who was exposed to this procedure and in which countries?
Usually, he is remembered during a political or economic crisis. You can learn more about this from the article.
Definition of a concept
The word has English roots, it translates as "distrust." What is impeachment? This definition implies a special judicial procedure for officials with their subsequent removal from their posts. By an official is meant both a minister and a president.
History of occurrence
The meaning of impeachment arose in the fourteenth century in England. The House of Commons received the right to bring the king's ministers to the court of Lords. The basis was a criminal case. Prior to this, only the ruling monarch was entitled to make such a decision.
Over time, such a procedure was entrenched in US law. Judges and governors may be subject to impeachment.
In the legislation of different countries
Now it’s clear what impeachment is. In simple terms, this is the removal of a civil servant. There is a similar procedure in most states. Basically, the issue of impeachment is decided at the government level. However, in Liechtenstein, the procedure of removal from power of the prince is carried out on the basis of a popular referendum.
In the US, the issue of dismissal is being put forward in the House of Representatives. Then the majority of votes (two-thirds) should be gathered in the Senate.
In Ukraine, the institution of impeachment belongs to the post of president. This is described in the third article of the Constitution. The Verkhovna Rada removes him from power. Must vote 226 deputies and more. The reason may be high treason or another crime.
"Impeachment Parade"
To better understand what it is in simple words (impeachment), real examples should be given. In Europe, there are practically no cases of completing the case. You can remember only 2004. Lithuanian President Paksas was accused of granting citizenship to businessman Yuri Borisov in exchange for a donation of four hundred thousand dollars. Rolandas Paxas pleaded not guilty, but was suspended.
The situation in the states of South America is much more interesting. So in Brazil, the Senate opposed the president. Fernando Colora di Melu resigned, but the government decided to bring the matter to an end. The President was impeached for corruption.
A similar charge was made by the government of Venezuela Carlos Perez. The president was removed from power and placed under house arrest for two years.
In 1997, the trial began in Ecuador against Abdala Bucaram. He was accused of several points at once: illegal use of armed forces, inappropriate behavior and corruption. As a result, the Ecuadorian “dance fan” emigrated to Panama.
In 2000, an incident occurred in Peru. The president fled the country to Japan. The reason for this was the mass protests that were provoked by corruption among the environment of Alberto Fujimori. The leader of Peru resigned, but Congress did not accept it and completed the impeachment procedure. He was accused of "persistent moral failure."
Sometimes impeachment worsened relations with other countries. So in 2012 in Paraguay, the president was accused of improper use of his official duties. Parliament dismissed him, but many Latin American states felt that a coup d'etat had taken place in Paraguay and recalled their ambassadors.
In the United States, three attempts were made to remove the president: Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton. But in two cases, they were acquitted by the Senate, and Nixon resigned without waiting for a government decision.
In the legislation of the Russian Federation
There is also an impeachment institution in Russia . What is it in simple words is difficult to understand. The procedure is described in the ninety-third article of the country's constitution. If the president has committed a crime, the State Duma charges him. The Supreme Court and the Federation Council also confirm this.
Attempts to remove Boris Yeltsin
The value of impeachment is not only the removal of the president or the highest state person from office. It is necessary to bring him to trial. Although most often it is a question of impeachment when the president and the government cannot agree. That impeachment of the president is also known in the Russian Federation.
In Russia, three attempts were made to carry out the abolition procedure. All of them were directed against Boris Yeltsin. The first time this happened in 1993, but by decision of a popular referendum, the president retained his post. In the same year, another conflict arose between the leader of the state and government officials. We had to use weapons to resolve it.
In 1998, a parliamentary commission was created under the State Duma. She prepared the charges on which Yeltsin was threatened with impeachment, but not one of the points won the majority of the deputies.
Each removal from power carries political consequences. Even if it was done in a legal way.