Taiwan’s Cabinet to Resign as Ruling Party Loses Majority in Parliament
TAIPEI – Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet will step down in line with constitutional precedent before the new parliament convenes next month. This decision comes after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its majority in the legislature.
Although an exact date was not specified, the new parliament is scheduled to meet on February 1, following the recent elections.
While the DPP emerged victorious in the presidential election, they failed to secure a parliamentary majority. Similarly, neither of Taiwan’s other major parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party, obtained a majority.
According to Taiwan’s governmental system, the president appoints the premier, who subsequently assembles a Cabinet and signs legislation into law.
Given the president-elect Lai Ching-te’s party will lack a parliamentary majority, he may need to reach across party lines and appoint a premier and Cabinet that include opposition or non-party members to facilitate the passage of legislation.
Asserting their position, the KMT stated on Tuesday that they will “definitely fulfill the role of the largest party” in parliament and “exert the strongest supervisory power.”
Meanwhile, TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je emphasized the significance of their eight lawmaker seats out of the total 113, referring to them as the “crucial minority” on his Facebook page.
The DPP secured 51 seats in parliament, while the KMT won 52.
Although the new parliament will convene next month, Lai will not assume office as president until May 20.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Neil Fullick)
© 2024 Thomson Reuters
Taiwan’s Cabinet is set to resign before the new parliament convenes next month, following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s loss of majority in the legislature. The party won the presidential election but neither it nor the other major parties secured a parliamentary majority. The president-elect may have to appoint a premier and Cabinet including opposition or non-party figures to ensure legislation can be passed. The Kuomintang party stated its intention to fulfill the role of the largest party in parliament. The new parliament will meet in February, while the new president will assume office in May.
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