Taiwan's Lai sends legislative power bill back to defiant opposition

Over 200 lawyers urge rethink of legislation as experts fear 'ugly fight'

20240611 lai

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te visits soldiers and air force personnel in Hualien on May 28. His fledgling government has faced an immediate challenge in the legislature. © Reuters

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's new government is sending a sweeping law that gives legislators significantly more power back to parliament, amid appeals by hundreds of lawyers to reconsider the bill.

President Lai Ching-te, who took office last month, on Tuesday approved the cabinet's request to ask the opposition-led legislature to review the bill on the grounds that it is "unconstitutional" and "difficult to implement." The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party rushed the bill through last month, resulting in physical sparring with lawmakers from Lai's Democratic Progressive Party as well as large public protests.

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