TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Constitutional Court on Friday (Oct. 25) quashed a “contempt of the Legislature” act and threw out rules related to a presidential State of the Nation speech voted for by an opposition majority in May.
Despite large-scale protests, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) collaborated to pass a raft of proposals seen as expanding the powers of the Legislative Yuan at the expense of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).
While the Constitutional Court ruled Friday that having the president deliver a State of the Nation speech did not violate the Constitution because it was not binding, the judges nevertheless still threw out some related measures, per Radio Taiwan International. The law should not determine the date and the content of the speech, nor allow lawmakers to put questions to the president and demand immediate replies, the court said.
The president is free to decide whether they want to deliver a State of the Nation address, when to deliver it, and what to say, according to Friday’s court ruling. The president and the Legislative Yuan are allowed to negotiate to reach a mutually acceptable formula for the speech.
The Constitutional Court also ruled against the opposition-backed “contempt of the Legislature” act, the Liberty Times reported. The stipulations that Cabinet members could not refuse to supply documents if requested by lawmakers questioning them, and the threat of a NT$200,000 (US$6,235) fine or other disciplinary measures for officials breaking the law were also ruled unconstitutional.
In addition, the court ruled against new legislative powers to investigate government officials. The decision will mean lawmakers will have to halt current probes into the handling of the Mirror TV case and of past egg imports, per UDN.