The Constitutional Court's has delivered its ruling on the so-called
parliamentary reform bills, saying that parts of them run against the
constitution.

Addressing the issue of inviting the President to make policy presentations
at the Legislative Yuan, the Court says that the President has no obligations
to do so.

And if the President does agree to make reports at the Yuan, lawmakers have
no rights to ask him questions.

On the bill's provision that says government officials can't refuse to
provide information or they'll be held as contempt of the legislature, the
Court says it has overstepped the check-and-balance stipulated in the
Constitution and therefore is now void.

In other words, the Premier and government officials have the right to refuse
answering legislators' questions or providing information after making
explanations to them.

In terms of granting consent to the nominees that the President nominates,
the Court says legislators can present written questions to the nominees
about their qualifications and suitability for the position.

But other than that legislators have no right to directly ask them questions
and demand answers.

On the investigative powers that the parliamentary reform bills give to the
lawmakers, the Court rules that the provisions need to be clarified further.

The ruling DPP legislative caucus, the Presidential Office, the Cabinet and
the Control Yuan requested constitutional interpretations after the bills
took effect on June 24th.

(JL)