Why Taiwan’s Lai may have little to celebrate in constitutional court win

Opposition leaders have described the ruling rejecting almost all of the proposed government oversight reforms as a ‘disgrace’

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Taiwanese leader William Lai, tensions between whose ruling Democratic Progressive Party and opposition lawmakers began days after he was sworn in on May 20. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:00pm, 3 Nov 2024Updated: 3:24pm, 3 Nov 2024

A ruling by Taiwan’s grand justices against opposition-led reforms to increase legislative oversight is expected to deepen political divides and make life more complicated for William Lai Ching-te’s administration.

Opposition leaders described the ruling – that almost all of the proposed reforms were unconstitutional – as a “disgrace” and the “death of judicial integrity”.

The decision followed months of tension between Lai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition lawmakers which began days after he was sworn in as leader on May 20.

Eight days later, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) joined forces to push through a number of parliamentary reform bills.

Lai’s cabinet vetoed the bills on June 11, only to be overridden by the opposition in a 62-51 vote by lawmakers. This prompted the executive body to request a constitutional review, on the grounds that the bills might be an overreach of the legislature’s authority.

KMT lawmakers celebrate winning the majority vote on the government oversight bill, inside the legislature in Taipei on June 21. The banner urges congressional reform and action against corruption. Photo: EPA-EFE

The constitutional court’s ruling, announced on October 25, created “three major disruptions”, according to KMT legislator Huang Chien-hao.