Taiwan political drama erupts over top court's fate in last days of 2024

Opposition passes key bills including new rules on judges, triggering outcry by lawyers

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Lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang vote while Democratic Progressive Party members stage a protest over a trio of controversial bills in the Legislative Yuan on Dec. 20. © Reuters

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's opposition coalition has forced through bills including one that risks effectively suspending the top court, sparking protests from lawyers and a political crisis that could drag on into 2025.

The Kuomintang (KMT) and smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) -- which together have enough seats to outvote the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Lai Ching-te -- pushed through three key pieces of legislation by late Friday night. One stipulates that the Constitutional Court cannot make decisions unless there are at least 10 justices on the bench, out of a total of 15. In a late addition, it also requires that at least nine justices vote in favor of any decision.

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