Taiwan’s Opposition Takes New Bold Step with Impeachment Move

A Historic Political Move in Taipei

The political climate in Taiwan has reached a boiling point this week. On Friday, December 26, 2025, the main opposition parties launched a historic campaign. They are seeking to impeach President William Lai Ching-te. This move was led by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). Together, they approved a motion to start the impeachment process in the Legislative Yuan.

This is the first time in Taiwan’s modern history that such a process has been started against a sitting president. While the move is very dramatic, many experts say it is “symbolic.” The opposition wants to send a strong message of protest against the current government.

The Trigger: A Disputed Fiscal Bill

The spark for this political fire was a disagreement over money. Specifically, it involves a bill to change how tax revenue is shared. The opposition-controlled legislature passed a law to give local governments more money. However, President Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai refused to implement it.

They argued that the new law would hurt the country’s fiscal health. Because the President did not sign the bill by the deadline, the opposition was furious. They claim that the President is “trampling on the constitution.” This battle over the budget has now turned into a fight for the future of Taiwan’s democracy.

Why the Impeachment is Called “Symbolic”

There is a very big reason why this campaign is called symbolic. Under Taiwan’s rules, impeaching a president is incredibly difficult. First, half of all lawmakers must agree to start the process. The KMT and TPP have enough votes for that. However, the next step requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

The opposition parties currently hold 60 seats, but they need 76 to win. Because the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds 51 seats, the vote is expected to fail. Therefore, the opposition knows they cannot actually remove the President. They are using the process to highlight their anger and attract public attention.

A Schedule for Public Hearings

Even though the final vote might fail, the process will take many months. The legislature has already set a clear schedule for the coming year. They plan to hold public hearings on January 14 and 15, 2026. During these sessions, members of the public and legal experts will give their opinions.

Then, President Lai will be invited to the legislature to explain his actions. This is scheduled for late January and again in mid-May. The final roll-call vote is set for May 19, 2026. This date is significant because it is the day before the two-year anniversary of the President’s inauguration.

Allegations of Violating the Constitution

The opposition has made some very serious accusations against the President. KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi said the President has “confiscated the nation’s democracy.” They argue that the executive branch must follow the laws passed by the legislature. By refusing to sign the revenue bill, they claim the President is acting like a dictator.

TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang added that the legislature must hold the leader accountable. On the other hand, the President’s office says they are protecting the country’s finances. They believe the opposition is playing a “political game” that harms the people of Taiwan.

The Deepening Political Deadlock

This impeachment bid is a symptom of a much larger problem. Taiwan is currently in a state of political deadlock. President Lai won the election last year, but his party lost its majority in the legislature. This means that the two sides almost never agree on anything. They have fought over the national budget, defense spending, and even judicial appointments.

This infighting has frozen much of the government’s work over the past year. Experts say this is one of the most polarized times in Taiwan’s history. The “divided government” has made it very hard to pass important new laws.

An Online Petition Gains Momentum

While the politicians fight in the legislature, the public is also getting involved. A group of activists launched an online petition to support the impeachment. They set a goal of 5.58 million signatures. This number is significant because it is exactly how many votes President Lai received in the election.

To everyone’s surprise, the petition gained over 2 million signatures in just 18 hours. This shows that many people are frustrated with the current state of the government. However, the petition has no legal power to remove the President. It serves as another symbolic way for people to show their displeasure.

The Role of the Constitutional Court

Even if the legislature managed to pass an impeachment vote, it would not be the end. The case would then go to the Constitutional Court. This is a group of 15 grand justices who must decide if the President really broke the law. Currently, the court is facing its own problems.

Many seats are empty because the opposition and the President cannot agree on new judges. Only eight justices are currently serving. This means the court might not even have enough people to hear the case. This legal “paralysis” makes the chances of a successful impeachment even smaller.

Looking Toward the 2026 Local Elections

Many analysts believe this move is really about the future. Taiwan will hold important local elections in late 2026. The KMT currently holds power in 15 out of 22 cities and counties. They want to keep this power and win more seats from the DPP. By attacking the President now, they hope to weaken his party’s reputation.

They want to paint the DPP as a party that does not listen to the people or the law. This impeachment campaign is like a “practice run” for the big election battles to come. It is more about winning votes in the future than removing a leader today.

A Test for Taiwan’s Democracy Taiwan

In conclusion, the symbolic campaign to impeach President Lai is a major test for Taiwan. It shows how deep the divisions have become between the different political camps. While the President is unlikely to be removed, the drama will continue for many months.

The public hearings and the May vote will keep the nation’s attention focused on the conflict. Both sides claim they are defending the constitution and the people. Ultimately, it will be up to the voters to decide who is right in the next election. For now, the political standoff in Taipei shows no signs of ending.

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