Since then, opposition lawmakers have used their majority to block or delay major government initiatives – including the national budget and a proposed US$40 billion supplementary defence spending package – while advancing their own legislation.
The spending law dispute has become the most serious flashpoint yet, with both sides accusing each other of violating the constitution.
The opposition branded Lai an “emperor”, accusing him of defying the will of the democratically elected parliament, and moved to impeach him.
How does impeachment work in Taiwan?
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has 113 seats.
More than half of all lawmakers are required to initiate impeachment proceedings – a threshold the opposition cleared last month.
But to actually remove a president from office, a two-thirds majority is needed. That decisive vote is scheduled for May 19.
If the motion passes, the case will be referred to Taiwan’s constitutional court for a final ruling.
At least two-thirds of the court’s justices must agree for the impeachment to be upheld, and the president would then be removed from office.
Why is impeachment unlikely to succeed?
The opposition does not have enough seats to reach the two-thirds threshold required to pass the motion.
The KMT, TPP and two independents control 62 seats – well short of the 76 votes needed to impeach the president.
Source: CNA
