Following the passage of a major pension reform bill, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) yesterday announced that he would no longer run or hold any public office after the end of his term, as his mission of rolling out reforms would be completed by then.
“After the end of this term, I will not run anymore. I will not hold any position in the government, state-run businesses and legal entities or the DPP,” Tuan wrote on Facebook. “People who want to get back at me have to do it now. I will probably not be reachable in the future.”
The legislator-at-large has proposed and endorsed progressive bills on pension reform and same-sex marriage, making him a major target of criticism by reform opponents and conservatives.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Chung Hsiao-ping (鍾小平) on Monday threatened to “go after” Tuan “with thousands of knives” until the end of Tuan’s political career, after Tuan’s proposal to minimize the phaseout period of an 18 percent preferential savings rate for public employees was adopted.
A draft bill on pension reform proposed by Tuan included clauses that would accelerate the pace of pension cuts — including a two-year phaseout of the preferential savings rate, which was passed into law on Tuesday — and would lower the income replacement ratio for public employees to 60 percent in five years, which influenced the DPP caucus into accelerating the ratio cut from a proposed 15 years to 10 years.
Tuan has also endorsed a draft bill to legalize same-sex marriage by amending the Civil Code and has voiced objections to proposals to legislate a special same-sex marriage law, which advocates and opponents consider a middle ground.
“Those who criticize and threaten to chase and kill me do not understand me. As a legislator-at-large, I have chosen the most unpopular Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee [of the Legislative Yuan] because there are missions to complete, including marriage equality, pension reform, transitional justice and legislative reform,” Tuan wrote.
The committee last year completed reviews of transitional justice and marriage equality bills, followed by pension reform this year, and is to begin reviewing legislation to reform the legislature next year, Tuan added.
The DPP did not comment on the announcement, which nearly amounts to a withdrawal from politics.
Tuan is a figurehead of the DPP’s New Tide faction, arguably the most influential group in the party.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS