KMT to defy Constitutional Court's ruling on presidential address
國民黨不服憲法法院對總統演說的判決
| Caucus leader says party will not comply with ruling that law be amended
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers will not cooperate with the Constitutional Court’s ruling to amend a law that requires the president to address the legislature, the party’s caucus leader Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said on Monday (Oct. 28). Speaking at a press conference outside the legislature, Fu said the KMT would fight the court’s Friday (Oct. 25) ruling that lawmakers cannot require the president to make an address, nor dictate the terms of one, per CNA. Fu said the KMT does not welcome President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to address the legislature on these terms, an offer Lai's office made after the ruling. The ruling returned the country to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), Fu said, repeatedly referring to Lai as an “emperor.” He further alleged that the judges who delivered the ruling were aligned with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Fu said the KMT would not comply with this ruling and would “never surrender.” He did not detail how the KMT planned to challenge the constitutional interpretation. The Constitutional Court’s Friday ruling considered the presidential address, legislative processes, investigative committees, reverse interpellation, and other items. On the presidential address, the court ruled that lawmakers could invite the president to make an address, but could not compel them to come. The court also ruled that allowing legislators to question the president when making such an address would be unconstitutional. Lai's Friday offer to address the legislature despite the ruling was delivered in a statement from his office. The statement said the president would be willing to make an address if an agreement is reached between the opposition and ruling parties. |
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| Jono Thomson, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2024-10-28 |
