Taiwan speaker Wang Jin-pyng wins reprieve
Crisis for KMT deepens as Wang Jin-pyng wins court order against his expulsion by party and is set to remain in post for start of new session
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou faces a deepening political crisis after legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng secured a court order blocking Ma's bid to oust him from his post.
Barring any further court action, the injunction issued by Taipei District Court means Wang will be free to preside over Taiwan's Legislative Yuan when its new session begins on Tuesday.
The court said if the injunction was rejected, it could create a substantial risk and an imminent crisis caused by Wang not being able to perform his duty
"The court said if the injunction was rejected, it could create a substantial risk and an imminent crisis caused by Wang not being able to perform his duty," said Chen Ming, a lawyer for Ma's ruling Kuomintang.
Chen said the KMT would file an appeal on Monday.
The ruling restores a political foe to a position of influence over Ma's agenda and risks opening a rift in the KMT, in which Ma and Wang both have strong bases of support.
As speaker, Wang and his allies could delay or prevent Ma's efforts to push through controversial measures, observers said.
Ma - a longtime rival of Wang's - has already been struggling amid low popularity to advance his legislative agenda, including a pact to open more trade services between Taiwan and the mainland.