TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chair of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) criticized the Constitutional Court’s decision to temporarily injunct several key amendments passed by the Kuomintang (KMT) and TPP that would considerably increase the power of the Legislative Yuan. 

Speaking to reporters in Yunlin on Saturday (July 20), Ko said the situation is out of control, reported UDN. According to Ko, the Constitutional Court's Friday ruling (July 19) shows the Judicial Yuan has become an arm of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that an injunction issued on the recently passed amendments will be upheld until the court determines the constitutionality of the new laws. The ruling represents a legal victory for the Lai administration and the DPP legislative caucus, who argued at an initial hearing on July 10 that the expanded powers granted to the Legislative Yuan are unconstitutional.

Ko also raised concern over the statements made by DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢), before the court’s announcement on Friday. Wu knew in advance the court was preparing to issue the ruling on Friday, which Ko says is a serious matter that raises questions about the impartiality of Taiwan’s most powerful judicial body, per UDN. 

Ko said the Constitutional Court is clearly favoring the DPP and the Lai administration. According to Ko, the court is undermining public confidence in the legal and legislative process, and he called on the DPP to publicly address the matter.

The Constitutional Court on Friday upheld an injunction targeting 12 sections of the new laws, which were deemed to represent an “urgent” threat to governance by the Lai administration. Another 32 sections of the legislative reform package were permitted to be implemented. 

The articles that have been injuncted include measures that would provide the Legislative Yuan with the power to demand state of the nation addresses from the president, form investigative committees with subpoena power, and hold government officials in contempt of the legislature. 

The Constitutional Court has set the next hearing date in the case for Aug. 6.