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Zhao Ziwen

Taiwan’s legislature passed a motion on Friday to start impeachment proceedings against the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te.
The Legislative Yuan voted 60 to 51 in favour of the motion that argued that the leader undermined the self-ruled island’s constitutional order and democracy.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on impeachment on May 19, according to the legislature’s procedures.
The impeachment motion came after Lai’s administration failed to enact an amendment passed by the opposition-controlled legislature that would have given local government a larger share of public revenue.
It was the first time in the island’s modern history that the executive branch had refused to put into effect a law passed by lawmakers.
As head of the executive branch, Cho Jung-tai could also face impeachment for failing to countersign the fiscal amendment.
Before the May 19 impeachment vote, the legislature will hold a series of hearings involving Lai, the public and government officials.
The impeachment push is the latest outburst of intense infighting on the island between the government and legislature since Lai took office.
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which together have a majority in the legislature, announced the impeachment proposal last week.
Reporting to his party on the proposal on Wednesday, KMT caucus convenor Fu Kun-chi, who is leading the impeachment effort, said Lai was trying to “crown himself emperor” and was “an autocrat that abolishes parliament”.


Lee Kun-cheng, spokesman for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said on Friday that the impeachment move amounted to “political infighting driven solely by narrow self-interest”.
The impeachment would require the support of at least 76 of the island’s 113 legislators to pass. However, the opposition camp holds just 62 seats.
Even if the opposition could rally the required number of votes in the legislature, the motion would be sent to the Constitutional Court, where all the sitting grand justices were picked by former leader Tsai Ing-wen, also of the DPP.
Peng Qingen, spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that the impeachment motion showed that Lai “disregarded the well-being of Taiwanese people” and “triggered strong opposition among the Taiwanese public”.
Lai’s election win in January 2024 extended the DPP’s hold on the island’s leadership to an unprecedented third term for the party. However, it lost its majority in the legislature, raising tensions between parliament and the administration.
Earlier this year, the DPP launched a mass recall campaign targeting opposition lawmakers, but failed to unseat a single member, leaving the legislature’s balance of power unchanged for the remainder of Lai’s term.
The KMT has since elected Cheng Li-wun as its leader. The former lawmaker is known for her pro-Beijing gestures and strong opposition to the DPP.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, the island’s main international partner, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.


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Taiwan’s legislature will need a two-thirds majority to impeach William Lai. Photo: EPA-EFE

Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers vow to impeach leader William Lai

Tensions between Taiwan’s legislature and the Democratic Progressive Party-led government have been high since William Lai Ching-te took office as the island’s leader in May last year. Photo: EPA

Huang Kuo-chang (centre) of the Taiwan People’s Party is among the opposition lawmakers to call for the impeachment of Taiwan’s leader, William Lai Ching-te. Photo: CNA

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Taiwanese leader William Lai has been accused by the opposition of “misusing” the constitution. Photo: EPA

Premier Cho Jung-tai has accused the opposition of undermining the constitutional system. Photo: CNA

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Japanese lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda (left) meets Taiwanese leader William Lai in Taipei on Monday. Photo: Handout

The trip by Koichi Hagiuda, a member of Tokyo’s ruling LDP, is especially sensitive because he serves as the secretary general of a cross-party parliamentary group promoting Japan-Taiwan relations. Photo: Handout

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A Patriot missile system is deployed at a park in Taipei, Taiwan during the Han Kuang military exercise on July 11. Photo: AFP

Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (centre) takes a group photo with reservists in Yilan county, Taiwan on December 2. Photo: AFP

News

China

Politics

Opposition-controlled legislature will hold a series of hearings before a formal vote in May


Opposition-controlled legislature will hold a series of hearings before a formal vote in May.


William Lai Ching-te

Cheng Li-wun

Kuomintang

Taiwan’s lawmakers vote to start impeachment process against William Lai

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Opposition-controlled legislature will hold a series of hearings before a formal vote in May

Opposition-controlled legislature will hold a series of hearings before a formal vote in May