Constructing political consensusBy Chen Yu-hsin 陳雨鑫Since taking office in 2024, President William Lai (賴清德) has faced an opposition-held majority in the legislature. Major policy initiatives have been blocked, with ramifications for governing efficiency and Taiwan’s broader political climate. Lee convened a national affairs conference, bringing together opposition and ruling party members, as well as academics, experts and community representatives, to deliberate on constitutional and political reforms. That helped lay the foundations for democratization, shifting the arena of political confrontation from the streets to formal institutions. It achieved a consensus on streamlining provincial governments and privatizing state-owned enterprises, providing direction for institutional reforms and an economic transition.

Source: Taipei Times February 24, 2026 17:44 UTC