TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The “blue-white” coalition on Wednesday (May 8) recommended President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) deliver a State of the Nation address.
The Kuomingtang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucuses issued separate proposals inviting Lai to deliver a State of the Nation address after his inauguration on May 20, which, if accepted, would be the first of its kind, reported CNA. Wu Su-yao (吳思瑤), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus secretary-general, told CNA Lai is willing to deliver such an address in the Legislative Yuan but that the format needs to be discussed among the party caucuses.
Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷), KMT caucus secretary-general, said that after the proposal is passed in a meeting on May 10, they will ask Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to convene cross-party consultations to discuss the address. Each party caucus will be allowed to raise questions and the method of questioning can also be determined.
Article 4 of the additional articles of Taiwan's constitution states: “When the Legislative Yuan convenes each year, it may hear a report on the state of the nation by the president.”
Lai said in April that as long as he receives an invitation from the Legislative Yuan that conforms to constitutional and legal requirements and arrangements, he will gladly attend and fulfill his duty.
Wu said Lai is willing to deliver an address, but the KMT proposal does not specify whether it would be a question-and-answer session in which questions are asked individually or one in which they are posed first and Lai responds to them collectively. Wu was also unclear if Lai could simply leave after delivering the address.
Wu added the TPP proposal was clearer, inviting Lai to deliver the address and respond to legislator questions per the law, with responses provided immediately.
Wu said that according to the Act on Exercising Legislative Yuan Powers, following the address, legislators can raise questions about any unclear aspects of the report. Matters such as the time, number of speakers, order, and proportion of political party members present will be determined through caucus consultations.