Legislature passes motion to start impeachment proceedings against Lai

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Friday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), arguing that he has undermined Taiwan's constitutional order and democracy.

The motion was approved during a Legislative Yuan session, where lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) who hold a numerical majority carried the vote 60 to 51.

Under the passed motion, a roll call vote in the Legislature will be held on May 19 after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to explain his position.

The move came after Lai failed on Dec. 15 to promulgate an amendment passed by the Legislature that would have given local governments a larger share of public revenues.

It was the first time in contemporary Taiwanese history that a president had failed to promulgate a law enacted by lawmakers.

• KMT, TPP to begin impeachment proceedings against President Lai Friday

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had declined to countersign the legislation earlier on Dec. 15, arguing that the legislation would have hurt Taiwan's fiscal sustainability, and Lai said Cho's move made it impossible for him to publicly announce the new law.

KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said the impeachment was filed because Lai has undermined the country's democracy and constitutional order and violated the constitution since taking office.

TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said the president's alleged violations of constitutional order should be addressed through impeachment proceedings to highlight the Legislature's role under a democratic constitutional system.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) and Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) criticized the opposition, however, for treating the constitution lightly and using impeachment as a political game.

Wu said the motion was a partisan attack that will not pass the two-thirds threshold in the Legislature that will eventually be required to impeach Lai, and she accused the opposition of trying to humiliate the president.

Before the planned roll-call vote on May 19, the Legislative Yuan will hold public hearings on Jan. 14 and 15 to hear opinions from members of civil society about the impeachment case.

Lai will be invited to explain his position during the Legislature's review sessions scheduled for Jan. 21-22 and May 13-14.

A separate hearing on April 27 will invite government officials and other relevant parties to give testimony, followed by questioning from legislators.

Under the ROC Constitution, impeachment motions against the president or vice president must be proposed by at least half of all legislators and approved by a two-thirds majority in the Legislative Yuan before being submitted to the Constitutional Court.

If at least two-thirds of the justices agree, the impeachment is upheld and the impeached person is removed from office.