TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) legislators on Tuesday (May 28) passed controversial measures to strengthen the Legislative Yuan's powers amid strong opposition from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.
The Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan`s Power (立法院職權行使法), reported PTS News. The amendments include provisions related to a "presidential State of the Nation address," “interpellation and response,” "contempt of the legislature," "ratifying nominations," and “exercise of investigative rights."
On May 17, the Legislative Yuan began reviewing the five amendments. During each of the four sessions of the review process, there were continuous conflicts, extending the legislative sessions until midnight, with tens of thousands of citizens gathered outside the Legislative Yuan to protest.
The third reading started at 4 p.m. on Tuesday amid protests by DPP lawmakers, by 5 p.m., Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) struck the gavel, announcing the conclusion of the third reading and making the amendments into law.
The amendments will be referred to the president for promulgation and sent to the Cabinet to complete the legislative process, or the Cabinet may request the Legislative Yuan to reconsider them.
The Cabinet issued a press release late Tuesday night saying the DPP caucus will petition for a constitutional interpretation of the amendments. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said the Cabinet is committed to faithfully safeguarding the Constitution.
Cho said throughout the amendment process, there have been numerous public concerns about the Legislative Yuan's failure to review the bills under legal procedures. He noted many provisions are also seen as infringing on people's rights, violating the separation of powers, and raising constitutional issues such as the principle of legal clarity.
Cho said if these legal amendments prove impractical due to unconstitutionality, the Cabinet will consider requesting the Legislative Yuan to reconsider them according to the procedures stipulated in the Additional Articles of the Constitution.
