Published since 2019 by the Fair Winds Foundation and Association of Foreign Relations, Taiwan Weekly provides in-depth report and analysis of the major issues facing Taiwan.
DPP Causes Breakdown of Budget Negotiations for Political Purposes
Review of the central government’s annual general budget by the Legislative Yuan is approaching the final stretch. The total budget this year, reaching a historic high of nearly NT$3.2 trillion (about US$97.2 billion), faces an unprecedented proposed cut and freeze of over NT$320 billion (about US$9.7 billion). Premier Cho Jung-tai has personally stepped in, holding a press conference to emphasize that such “unreasonable” budget cuts would lead to a “weakened national strength.” Meanwhile, Legislator Ker Chien-ming, whip of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus of the Legislative Yuan, has employed filibustering tactics during two consecutive days of negotiations with opposition parties, leading to prolonged debates and heated exchanges, yet with no conclusion reached. With time running out, it seems increasingly unlikely that the budget will pass its third reading without facing what the administration calls “unreasonable cuts.”
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In Light of Backlash Against Abolition, President Lai Executes Death Penalty for the First Time
President Lai Ching-te, eight months into his tenure, carried out the first execution of his presidency yesterday. This appears to counter the Constitutional Court’s controversial Interpretation No. 8 issued last year, which limited the applicability of the death penalty and was criticized as a form of “de facto abolition.” With the government’s general budget and judicial nominations repeatedly blocked by opposition parties, speculation arises that the execution was aimed at reversing the public’s highly negative perception of the anti-death penalty stance to restore the administration’s declining standing.
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President Lai Should Re-Nominate Grand Justices to Resolve Constitutional Deadlock
The public is extending close scrutiny to how President Lai Ching-te will proceed after receiving the Legislative Yuan's notification of the reconsideration motion on the Constitutional Court Procedure Act. It is expected that he will complete the promulgation process within a few days.<br /> <br /> Following the Executive Yuan's failure to pass the reconsideration of the Constitutional Court Procedure Act, the pressure now shifts to President Lai. Key decisions include when to promulgate the new law, whether to request constitutional interpretation under the pretext of “preventive legal remedy,” and who should make such a request. Each step involves complex political calculations, constitutional legal confrontations, and tests of the public's patience. However, a simpler solution exists: President Lai could re-nominate impartial and independent grand justices to restore the operation of the Constitutional Court. But will President Lai, emboldened by political battles, step back and take this course?
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Partisan Tensions and Internal Dissatisfaction: President Lai in Difficult Position
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has faced repeated setbacks in the Legislative Yuan, with party whip Legislator Ker Chien-Ming calling for anti-democratic measures such as dissolving the Legislative Yuan, disbanding the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and initiating recalls against Speaker Han Kuo-Yu and other KMT lawmakers. This has fueled calls for large-scale retaliatory recalls. Meanwhile, the Executive Yuan has shown no signs of compromise, resorting to hardline tactics such as reconsideration motions and constitutional interpretations to delay proceedings. Under these circumstances, politics is set to stall, devolving into a chaotic battle sure to squander public funds and erode public trust. In face of an impending political dark age, does President Lai have no strategy to prevent a head-on collision?
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Constitutional Court Should Not Rule During Vacancy
The Executive Yuan has submitted a reconsideration request to the Legislative Yuan regarding amendments to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act. During this transitional period when the Constitutional Court's operations are in limbo, two politically sensitive cases have emerged and may be resolved through constitutional interpretation.
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Protest Against Unfair Judiciary: 150,000 Show Support
Supporters of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) took to the streets in protest on Judicial Day, voicing their grievances on behalf of former Chairman Ko Wen-je. However, this was only one of their demands. The broader message conveyed by the event was the public's deep mistrust of the judiciary system and their significant protest against the administration of President Lai Ching-te.
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Ko Detained Again: KMT and DPP Seek to Attract Ko Supporters, Need Stronger Narratives
Ko Wen-je, former chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and three others have been charged with corruption. On the evening of January 2, the Taipei District Court held its third detention hearing. The prosecution argued that Ko's influence was not diminished by resigning as party chairman, and with his secretary Hsu Tzu-yu, nicknamed "Orange," still at large, the risk of collusion remains. The court ruled late at night to detain Ko and three others. While he can appeal the detention ruling, Ko is likely to face repeated challenges in the future. After being released on bail, Ko resigned as party chairman, acknowledging his inability to lead the TPP effectively under the weight of ongoing legal battles. The future of his one-man party and the direction of its supporters, so-called "little grass,” are now in question, with both the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vying for their support.
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President Lai's Calculation Behind "Greater Democracy"
As 2024 closed, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, Public Officials Election and Recall Act, and Constitutional Court Procedure Act. At the time, President Lai Ching-te called for "greater democracy" to address political differences, sparking widespread discussion. During his New Year’s Day address, President Lai reiterated that the people have the rights to election, recall, initiative, and referendum, permitting the aggregation of greater democratic power and embodying the essence of popular sovereignty. On January 2, the Executive Yuan promptly proposed a reconsideration of the Constitutional Court Procedure Act.
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Arbitrarily Dismissing Mainland Spouse from Elected Office: What Else Won't the Lai Administration Do？
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) dismissed Shi Xueyan, a mainland Chinese spouse who served as member in the Nantou County Council, on the grounds of failing to renounce her original nationality under the Nationality Act. Although Shi was a substitute appointee and has since left office, she was undeniably an elected official. The MOI’s reliance on a highly contentious administrative order to disregard public opinion demonstrates an extreme abuse of authority and poses significant constitutional risks for the future.
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Prosecution Also Suffered While Destroying Ko's Character
After four months of intense investigation, the 100,000-word indictment by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office details facts underlying charges against Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and seeks a heavy sentence of 28.5 years. While the gravity of the requested sentence did not shock the public, the indictment not only ruined Ko’s character but also made the prosecution suffer.
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