President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced on Monday that he will request for a constitutional interpretation and a temporary injunction on the recently passed legislative reform bills. This marks the first time a president has sought for constitutional interpretation under the new constitutional court system.
The amendments to the Act Governing the Legislature’s Power and the Criminal Code not only enhance the investigative powers of the Legislature but also include the power to hold hearings and impose penalties and jail time for contempt of the Legislature.
In his address, Lai voiced significant concerns about the amendments. He stressed that the provisions could undermine the principle of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances of the government. He explained that to protect the constitutionally mandated form of governance and the rights of the people, a constitutional interpretation and a provisional injunction from the constitutional court was formally requested.
The legislative reform bills were passed last month mainly by opposition parties. In the newly elected Legislature, the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) hold a majority over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). With the Legislature rejecting the Cabinet’s request to reconsider the amendments last Friday, the president is required by law to accept the bills. Lai signed the bills into law Monday morning, as per his duty, at the same time as he requested the injunction into their enforcement.
