To "declare illegitimate" refers to the official act of denouncing, proclaiming, or asserting that something or someone is not lawful, valid, or recognized as legitimate according to the established laws, regulations, or standards of a particular society or organization.
When an authority or governing body declares something as illegitimate, they essentially declare it to be illegal, unauthorized, or improper, thereby invalidating its status or existence. It signifies the disavowal or repudiation of the legitimacy, authenticity, or legality of a person, action, document, or institution.
This declaration can be made in various contexts. For instance, in a legal context, declaring a document or legal contract as illegitimate implies that it has been deemed to lack the required legal validity or has been obtained unlawfully, thereby rendering it unenforceable.
In a political context, declaring a government, regime, or ruler as illegitimate means to challenge their authority or claim to power, asserting that they have obtained or maintain their position through illegal means, such as a coup d'état or fraudulent election, and are not recognized as a legitimate governing body.
Overall, the act of declaring something or someone as illegitimate is a formal, authoritative, and often legal pronouncement that challenges its validity, legality, or rightful claim, thus negating its standing or acceptance within a particular jurisdiction or society.
