(Dec 26): Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers have begun the process of impeaching President Lai Ching-te — a bid that is almost certain to fail because they lack the votes needed to see it through.
Lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party said on Friday that they will hold an impeachment vote on May 19. While the two parties together control a majority in parliament, they fall short of the two-thirds support required for the effort to move forward, making it likely to stall at that stage.
The impeachment push reflects broader tensions between Lai and the opposition over issues ranging from relations with China and how tax funds are spent to calls for reforms of institutions such as the judiciary. Lai, who favours a tougher approach towards Beijing, won the presidency in 2024, but his Democratic Progressive Party lost control of the legislature.
Since then, opposition lawmakers have used their majority to block or delay government bills — including a record special military budget proposed in November — and pass legislation the Presidential Office says is unconstitutional. In turn, Lai’s administration has resisted implementing several opposition-backed measures, accusing lawmakers of abusing their power. Despite the standoff, Taiwan’s government has continued to function largely as normal.
The opposition says it wants to impeach Lai because his government refused to sign off on an amendment it passed that would shift more fiscal revenue to city and county governments, many of which are controlled by the KMT. Lawmakers accused him of violating constitutional checks on presidential power.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said before the date for the impeachment vote was set that the office respects the opposition’s move as long as it is “lawful, constitutional and procedurally sound”.
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Long odds
Even if the impeachment were to somehow clear the legislature, it would still face long adds at the Constitutional Court. All of the sitting grand justices were appointed by former president Tsai Ing-wen, who’s from Lai’s party.
The Constitutional Court recently struck down an amendment passed by opposition that had effectively frozen its operations, allowing it to resume operations. On Friday, Taiwan’s cabinet said it will seek the court’s review of pension bills passed by the lawmakers.
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Unlike the budget standoffs in the US that can lead to government shutdowns, Taiwan has so far continued to operate largely as normal despite Lai’s tussles with the opposition. He is still expected to press ahead with his agenda, including the military spending plan announced earlier this year.
No Taiwan president has been impeached since the archipelago shifted to a democracy in the 1990s.
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