TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A power struggle has emerged in Taiwan as the opposition Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) worked together to pass amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature's Power and later rejected a reconsideration proposal. In response, the Control Yuan petitioned the Constitutional Court on Monday (July 1) for a ruling on the constitutionality of the amendments, arguing that they allow the legislative body to usurp its power.
Yang Chang-hsien (楊昌憲), head of the Control Yuan's investigation department, represented the institution to petition the Constitutional Court for a constitutional interpretation. Since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced the reform bills, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) caucus in the Legislative Yuan, the Presidential Office, the Executive Yuan, and the Control Yuan have successively filed for constitutional interpretations and temporary injunctions. This has set a record for four constitutional bodies simultaneously filing for constitutional interpretations.
DPP spokesman Justin Wu stated that the KMT and TPP's power expansion has not stopped and announced that the party would continue to hold "anti-abuse of power, protect democracy" (反濫權、護民主) lectures until the Legislature recesses on the 16th.
DPP secretary-general Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) last Wednesday reported to the public on three main issues, including corruption cases involving several KMT leaders and legislators and China's suppression of Taiwan's democracy through new disciplinary rules against Taiwan independence.
Responding to the DPP's statement, KMT legislators argued that the DPP has had too many scandals during its eight years in power, and the Legislature should be granted investigative power to uncover the truth.