Taiwan - December 2025
Constitutional Court strikes down law which had paralyzed it
On 19 December, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court struck down a 2024 amendment to the Constitutional Procedure Act—effectively reactivating itself after a year of paralysis. The amendment required a quorum of ten justices to make any ruling. The Court had only eight justices, and a political deadlock between the executive and opposition-controlled legislature prevented new appointments. This prevented the Court from operating entirely. Rights advocates welcomed the new decision for preserving citizens’ access to judicial remedies amid a constitutional vacuum. However, the decision remains controversial given that the ruling was issued by five of the eight sitting justices, with three refusing, raising concerns about potential judicial overreach. The Court resumed issuing rulings in late December, but political tensions persist over its composition amid a deepening constitutional crisis. The opposition KMT has filed charges of malfeasance with two lower courts.
Sources: International IDEA, Jurist, Taipei Times (1), Taiwan News, Taipei Times (2)
