‘A SERIOUS BLOW’: Although the Constitution provides ways to resolve conflicts between branches, this matter could require a constitutional interpretation, a lawyer said

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 22, 2020
By: Hsieh Chun-lin and Jason Pan / Staff reporters

The continued detention of four legislators, who were yesterday indicted for bribery, requires approval from the Legislative Yuan, as the legislative session has begun, Legislative Yuan Secretary-General Lin Chih-chia (林志嘉) said yesterday.

Su Chen-ching (蘇震清) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Chen Chao-ming (陳超明) and Sufin Siluko (廖國棟) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and independent Legislator Chao Cheng-yu (趙正宇) were detained last month while the legislature was in recess.

“If the Taipei District Court decides to extend the detention of the four sitting legislators, then the court must ask for permission through an official letter. Then Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) would convene cross-party negotiations to deliberate on the matter,” Lin said.

Lin cited the Additional Articles to the Constitution, which state that “no member of the Legislative Yuan may be arrested or detained without the permission of the Legislative Yuan, when that body is in session.”    [FULL  STORY]