TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Legislative Yuan is set to decide Tuesday how President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will address questions from lawmakers during a potential state of the nation address.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) proposed Monday that legislators submit questions in advance so Lai could incorporate responses into his speech. Caucuses from the KMT, DPP and TPP are scheduled to negotiate the format at a 4:30 p.m. meeting, per PTS.
Opposition lawmakers said Lai should respond thoroughly to all questions regardless of the format ultimately adopted. KMT Caucus Convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said “the best way to communicate is to answer every question, without attempting to dodge them,” per Tai Sounds.
TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍) echoed Fu’s position, urging Lai to honor his promise to deliver a state of the nation address and accept questions from lawmakers, per ETtoday. Chen said the TPP would press Lai to explain why he has declined to promulgate certain legislative acts passed by lawmakers, which he is constitutionally required to sign into law.
The ruling DPP appeared more cautious about Han’s proposal. Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said Lai would deliver an address in accordance with the law, per SETN.
Pro-DPP legal commentator and lawyer Huang Ti-ying (黃帝穎) argued that Han’s proposal is unconstitutional and atypical among democratic nations, per SETN. Citing a 2024 ruling by the Constitutional Court, Huang said the justices found that lawmakers do not have the right to dictate the content of the president’s address, and therefore Han’s proposal would be unconstitutional.
Former DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) echoed Huang’s assessment, calling Han’s proposal “ridiculous.” She said Lai retains authority over when to deliver the address and what it contains.
Commenting on the 2024 ruling, Constitutional Court Department of Clerks Director-General Yang Hao-ching (楊皓清) said lawmakers do not have the right to question the president following such an address.
National Central University Professor Chen In-chin (陳英鈐) disputed Huang’s interpretation, noting that former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) adopted a similar approach during a state of the nation address to the National Assembly, per Liberty Times.
Chen said Han’s proposal could allow the president to avoid repetitive or overly political questions while still providing lawmakers with substantive answers. He described the approach as a compromise between the presidency and the legislature.
