TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The legislature on Tuesday rejected President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) nominee for prosecutor general, Supreme Prosecutors Office head prosecutor Hsu Hsi-hsiang (徐錫祥).

Before the vote, KMT legislative caucus convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said his party would block the confirmation, citing concerns that Hsu may not be able to act impartially, per UDN. The TPP caucus also raised objections, saying Hsu lacked experience in appellate-level courts and questioning his neutrality because of his previous role as a political appointee at the National Security Bureau, per Newtalk.

Incumbent Prosecutor General Hsing Tai-chao (邢泰釗) is expected to leave office Thursday, per Tai Sounds. The Ministry of Justice said it would notify the Cabinet to appoint an acting prosecutor general, per UDN.

Although Hsu’s nomination was rejected, his appointment as a Supreme Prosecutors Office head prosecutor in February could make him eligible to serve as acting prosecutor general.

During the confirmation hearing, lawmakers questioned Hsu’s prosecutorial experience. Some academics said he had sufficient background, while High Prosecutors Office head prosecutor Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達) said Hsu lacked experience handling major corruption, politically sensitive, or economic crime cases compared with recent predecessors, per UP Media.

Chen also said Hsu’s rapid promotion to the Supreme Prosecutors Office without experience at the Taipei District Prosecutors Office or in appellate-level prosecution work, followed by a quick nomination for the top post, raised concerns about political influence.

Legal insiders said the Prosecutors Association typically recommends candidates through a vote, but no such process was used for Hsu’s nomination, per UDN. They added that the last four prosecutors general were all ranked among the top two in the association’s recommendation list.

Hsu’s record also drew scrutiny over a bribery case in Hsinchu County’s Zhudong Township. He highlighted his role in interrogating more than 1,000 defendants in six days, which led to the convictions of two candidates accused of corruption.

Legal insiders said that if most defendants in such cases are later found not guilty, prosecutors should face review for their handling of the investigation.