Confrontation in the legislature looks set to continue when it convenes today after a two-month recess.
At odds with the Cabinet over a number of policies, opposition legislators have vowed to take their protests to Premier Yu Shyi-kun today when he delivers his biennial policy address to the legislature.
At issue are the hike in national health insurance fees; plans to reform the financial institutions of farmers' and fishermen's cooperatives, most of which are linked to the KMT; and a bill dealing with assets "obtained inappropriately" by political parties, which would also affect the KMT more than the other parties.
Lee Chuan-chiao (
But Lee promised that their actions would be rational.
He said KMT legislators will have their mouths gagged as a way of protest and that they would not interfere with Yu's policy address.
The KMT has pledged to stand by the representatives from farmers' and fishermen's cooperatives who will visit the legislature today to relay their objections to the reform plans.
The party is unhappy with the DPP government for communicating the reform plans only to the TSU, but not the KMT and PFP.
"Obviously, the DPP is belittling the KMT and PFP and has turned a blind eye to their suggestions. These acts will make the political scene even more unstable," warned Legislative Yuan speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).
In another case that has triggered strong dissatisfaction from opposition legislators, the Cabinet hiked health insurance fees when the legislature was in recess.
Labor groups against the hike, led by PFP Legislator Lin Hui-kuan (林惠官), who serves as president of the Chinese Federation of Labor, will demonstrate outside the legislature today, hoping for a chance to voice their protests to Yu face to face.
Lin said the demonstration is likely to continue in the legislative chamber unless Yu responds positively to the appeals of the labor groups.
Also yesterday, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
The DPP has attacked and smeared the KMT with the asset issue whenever there is an election and the bill is a way to stigmatize the KMT, Lien said.
KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (
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Protests must not derail reforms
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