Constitutional Court Hears Arguments About Expanded Legislative Powers

The Constitutional Court hears heated arguments over controversial expansions to lawmakers' powers.

Transcript

00:00A controversy that stirred up the country is heard at the Constitutional Court.

00:04An opposition coalition in the legislature voted to expand lawmakers' powers in May.

00:09They argue it's a necessary part of legislative reform.

00:12But opponents from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party see a potentially dangerous overreach.

00:18After brawls in the chamber and rallies on Taipei's streets, it's time for the country's

00:21highest judges to decide who's right and whether the new rules will stand.

00:26There is a lot for them to sort through.

00:28Perhaps the biggest controversy is over provisions that would let lawmakers call in officials

00:33for questioning and punish them with fines or prison time if legislators judge their

00:37answers to be false or incomplete.

00:40Representatives of the ruling party are concerned about how the questioning process may play

00:44out and whether officials will be allowed to make their points without interference.

00:49But supporters of the changes say rules about such questions have been in place for a long

00:52time already.

00:54Anti-questioning is a term that has been in place for more than 20 years in our country's

00:59legal system.

01:00The questioner leaves the position of being questioned and interrogated.

01:03The questioner is interrogated, questioned, and executed.

01:06They also say other countries' legislatures have penalties for perjury.

01:11The justices heard hours of debate, but they didn't just listen.

01:15Another controversial rule requires the president to give an annual state-of-the-nation address

01:19to lawmakers and take their questions.

01:22On this point, at least one judge told the opposing sides to sort out their differences

01:26themselves.

01:44These are just the opening moments in deliberations expected to take at least three months.

01:48But one of the biggest political storms in recent years could be on its way to resolution.

01:53Scott Huang and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.