The Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China held a vote on the judicial power of the Justices of the Judicial Yuan today (25th). Blue and White legislators once again blocked the nominations of 7 individuals. Presidential spokesperson Guo Yahui expressed President Lai Ching-te’s deep regret and concern over this matter.
President Lai Ching-te of the Republic of China nominated Zhang Wenzhen and Yao Liming as the Chief and Deputy Chief Justices of the Judicial Yuan, respectively, along with a total of 7 nominees at the end of August 2024. In December 2024, the Legislative Yuan exercised its power of personnel approval, and all nominees were rejected.
In March of this year, the Office of the President of the Republic of China re-nominated 7 Justices of the Judicial Yuan, including Cai Qiuming and Su Su’e as Chief and Deputy Chief Justices, respectively, consulting the Legislative Yuan for approval before appointment. Today, the Legislative Yuan conducted a roll call vote on the personnel approval of the Justices of the Judicial Yuan, and the Blue and White coalition once again vetoed all 7 nominees.
The Office of the President of the Republic of China issued a press release today in response to the Legislative Yuan’s vote on the personnel approval of the Chief and Deputy Chief Justices of the Judicial Yuan. Presidential spokesperson Guo Yahui stated that President Lai Ching-te expressed deep regret and concern over the results.
Guo Yahui stated that these 7 nominees for the position of Justice were selected through open recruitment by the President’s Office and carefully recommended by the nomination review committee. President Lai appreciates the courage and effort of all the nominees. Guo Yahui emphasized that the outcome of today’s Legislative Yuan vote has led to a continued vacancy in the number of Justices, resulting in the Constitutional Court’s inability to operate normally and a delay in constitutional remedies, thus undermining the basic rights of the people.
Guo Yahui said that Taiwan’s democratic and constitutional system is facing unprecedented challenges, which all constitutional organs have an irreplaceable duty to address. She hopes that all parties can recognize their constitutional responsibilities, work together to seek consensus, and restore the normal operation of the Judicial Yuan and the Constitutional Court at an early date to ensure the country’s constitutional order and safeguard the rights and interests of the people.
The Kuomintang caucus in the Legislative Yuan held a press conference, where Legislator Wu Zongxian stated that the nominees for the Justice positions should have the courage to confront those in power, which is an important criterion for judgment. If the nominees dare not speak directly when questioned by legislators, how can we expect them to have the courage to confront those in power? After discussion within the caucus, it was unanimously decided that the nominees for the Justice positions this time did not meet the qualifications expected of Justices.
Huang Guochang, the General Convener of the People’s Party caucus, expressed that they believe the Justice nominees proposed by President Lai still bear the “instrumental color controlled by the Democratic Progressive Party,” with all 8 caucus legislators unanimously voting against all nominations.
The Executive Yuan of the Republic of China issued a press release regarding the Legislative Yuan’s exercise of the personnel approval for the Justices of the Judicial Yuan today. The opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan vetoed all nominees based on a caucus resolution. Spokesperson Li Huizhi of the Executive Yuan stated that over the past year, there has been no space for rational discussion on issues ranging from legislative amendments, budget reviews to personnel checks.
Li Huizhi added that the Constitutional Court shoulders the duty and responsibility of safeguarding the constitutional order, with 99% of cases applied by the people to the Constitutional Court. As another constitutional organ, the Executive Yuan regrets the disregard for the normal operation of the constitutional order, the neglect of people’s constitutional remedy rights, and the violation of constitutional spirit by the two opposition parties.