Legislators plan to agree on a proposed referendum law in a final showdown this afternoon, legislative leaders said yesterday, after the first day of a special sitting on the law went nowhere.
The legislature plans to vote to decide the fate of controversial clauses among the versions presented by the Executive Yuan, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and the pan-blue camp.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Controversies surround restrictions on referendum topics put forward by the alliance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP); a referendum proposed by the pan-green camp on changing the country's name, flag and anthem; and an article providing a legal foundation for the government to initiate advisory referendums.
The legislature also plans to vote on whether the country should have a referendum on the date of the presidential election.
The first day of the special sitting aimed at finalizing the law failed to generate any breakthroughs in inter-party negotiations, despite legislative leaders' stated determination to wrap up the bill on time.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whip Chen Chi-mai (
"The KMT-PFP alliance would prove to voters that their pledge of referendum lawmaking was the lie of the century if they approve the referendum bill with numerous limitations," Chen said.
He acknowledged that the DPP was prepared for the opposition-controlled legislature to try to pass a law going against the Cabinet's wishes.
Chen said the Executive Yuan would appeal for a renewed discussion on the referendum law in the legislature should the DPP fail to attain backing from the TSU caucus and independent legislators in today's showdown.
KMT legislative leader Lee Chia-chin (
The pan-blue camp faced a challenge to persuade two members, New Party Legislator Wu Cheng-tien (
The two legislators, representing the frontline islands of Kinmen and Matsu, voiced their opposition yesterday to the referendum proposals, arguing the legislation could trigger war between Taiwan and China.
"For the sake of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait and the safety of Taiwanese and the people of Kinmen and Matsu, we are determined to oppose this legislation," the two legislators told a news conference yesterday.
Outside the legislature, members of the newly established Alliance for Monitoring Referendum Legislation watched over the special sitting.
Over 10,000 people are expected to rally in front of the legislature today to demand passage of the law, rally organizer Hsieh Jung-chen (
"The alliance will oversee the legislation and look for the passage of an unrestricted referendum law," he said.
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