TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The main parties at the Legislative Yuan agreed Friday (May 10) that President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) should present a State of the Nation address after his May 20 inauguration.

Details about the proceedings will likely be worked out at a meeting scheduled for Monday (May 13), Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reported. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Caucus Whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) described Friday’s decision as a key moment in Taiwan’s constitutional history, as lawmakers have tried to introduce a presidential State of the Nation speech for 30 years.

However, Ker emphasized that it would be unconstitutional to ask questions of the president and force him to answer each question immediately. The proposal submitted by the Kuomintang (KMT) included the question-and-answer method.

KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said he would welcome Lai, a former DPP lawmaker, to return to the Legislative Yuan to deliver an address under whatever formula. His colleague for the Taiwan People’s Party, Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), said the people would be happy to see the president listen to public opinion and respond.