Members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday criticized President William Lai’s (賴清德) plan to seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on recently passed legislative reforms despite signing them into law.
The KMT caucus called on the court to remain impartial in its ruling after Lai said he would seek a judgement and apply for “a preliminary injunction” from the court to stop the amendments from being implemented before a final ruling is made.
At a news conference in Taipei, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi urged Lai to “bravely face the legislature and the people,” and appealed to the court to show judicial conscience by not opposing the reforms.
Photo: Fang Ping-chao, Taipei Times
“The Constitutional Court is the guardian of the Constitution, and should not be a watchdog for any political party,” KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
As the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) appointed the court’s justices, they are likely to rule in favor of the Lai administration, Lo said.
When the DPP was the opposition party it recognized the need for legislative reform, but it now opposes it, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) said.
Before a judgement is issued, the government should respect and adhere to the laws passed by the legislature, as in any democracy, Hung said, referring to an earlier statement by Lai that he would deliver a “state of the nation” address to the legislature only after a constitutional ruling.
The TPP also expressed regret over the matter, saying that legislative reform was the expectation of the ruling and opposition parties and Taiwanese.
The reform bills passed by the legislature should be respected and Lai should stand with public opinion, the TPP said in a statement.
During his presidential campaign, Lai said there was an obligation for a president to give a “state of the nation” address, but since his election, he has distorted the reform bills, it said.
The president is unwilling to face legislative oversight and is clinging tightly to his executive power, it added.
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