Taipei: Opposition lawmakers on Wednesday lashed out at President Lai Ching-te in the Legislature after Lai declined to appear at a hearing on an impeachment motion directed at him. Opposition lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings against Lai last month after the president declined to promulgate a bill passed by the opposition lawmakers that would increase the share of tax revenue allocated to local governments.

According to Focus Taiwan, a first impeachment hearing was held Wednesday based on the schedule passed by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP). The two parties invited the president to explain his position at the Legislature and respond to lawmakers' questions, but, in a letter to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu on Tuesday, Lai declined to attend.

He stated that it was not within lawmakers' purview to question the president, citing an Oct. 2024 Constitutional Court ruling that declared such an act unconstitutional. Despite Lai's absence, lawmakers proceeded to make speeches as originally planned.