Seeking to have more say in future legislation, independent lawmakers are making a fresh attempt to resurrect the Non-partisan Alliance, a former legislative caucus that was dissolved for lack of members.
Independents are hoping their ranks will be filled by at least some of the four KMT legislators expelled from their party on Tuesday.
"We're confident this time the alliance can pass the threshold required for its formation," said Chou Chiang-yu (周湘瑜), aide of independent lawmaker Chen Chin-ting (陳進丁). "To that end, Chen will cut short his trip to China on Friday to give the matter a final push."
The legislature's internal rules stipulate that a caucus must consist of at least eight lawmakers or garner more than five percent of the vote in legislative elections.
All caucuses can send representatives to cross-party negotiations, which play an important role in resolving partisan differences over the content of bills and order of business.
Chen, who was expelled from the KMT on Tuesday, was a core member of the Non-partisan Alliance, through which former independent legislator Lo Fu-chu (
A caucus can stall the legislative process by withholding its consent from any proposed agreement.
The alliance, if brought back to life, would cooperate with the ruling DPP to help preserve political stability, Chen has said.
Independent lawmakers Tsai Hau (
In the previous session, the independents were one lawmaker short of being able to establish a caucus. Aboriginal lawmaker May Chin (
Yang Wen-hsin (
Hung Chao-nan (洪昭男), another independent legislator who earlier broke ranks with the KMT, has said he prefers to remain unaffiliated.
Wu, the sole lawmaker from the pro-unification New Party, said he is looking forward to creating a caucus for independents so that they can have a greater say in legislation in the fall session.
He said his membership of the alliance would not interfere with his political stance or vice versa.
"Non-partisan in nature, the alliance will not take punitive actions against its members in the first place," Wu said. "On issues where there is consensus, members will take collective action. On issues where there is no consensus, members will be free to cast their ballots in line with their own political judgement."
Cashing in on their absence of political affiliations, these lawmakers have been flirting with both the ruling and opposition camps, though most sided with the "pan-green" side during key votes in the past session.
Their backing is believed to have contributed to the narrow victory in the appointment of Yao Chia-wen (
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,