TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Legislative Yuan will vote on June 21 to decide the fate of the government’s attempt to override an opposition-backed package of amendments, after two days when lawmakers can question Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰).
The passage of the amendments has been condemned for an alleged lack of discussion, and for strengthening the power of the opposition-dominated legislature at the expense of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and his administration. Protests erupted across the country and even overseas, against what critics described as an unconstitutional power grab.
The ruling and opposition camps at the Legislative Yuan agreed Thursday (June 13) that Cho should present a report and face questioning by lawmakers June 19-20, Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reported. The vote about the Cabinet’s proposal to overturn the package of legislation is scheduled for June 21.
The vote will be conducted by open ballot, revealing how each legislator votes. The government’s proposal to cancel the reform laws needs the backing of 57 lawmakers out of 113.
President Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds 51 seats, while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) control 52 and eight seats, respectively. There are also two independent lawmakers, who are generally regarded as close to the KMT.
DPP politicians have said they plan to take the case to the Constitutional Court for a ruling if the vote goes against them. The controversial package of proposals includes an annual State of the Nation address by the president with a requirement for him to answer questions from lawmakers, a contempt of the legislature law, and a range of investigative powers to be handed to the Legislative Yuan.