A package of opposition-backed bills to expand the powers of the legislature would strengthen the nation’s democracy, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said on Tuesday.
Ko made the comments in a Facebook post as the Legislative Yuan held third readings of the amendments, which would expand the body’s investigative powers, and add a “contempt of the legislature” offense to the Criminal Code and a provision requiring the president to be “invited” by lawmakers to give an annual “state of the nation” address.
The bills have been jointly pushed by the Chinese National Party (KMT) and the TPP, in the face of fierce opposition from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Photo: Huang Ching-hsuan, Taipei Times
Ko said he “never imagined” the DPP would try to block the reforms, many of which he said the party supported during its time as the opposition party.
Contrary to the DPP’s use of the slogan “no discussion, no democracy,” the question of reforming the legislature has been under discussion “for 30 years,” Ko said.
Under five branches of government, the legislature has never received suitable authority, leaving lawmakers unable to effectively supervise or investigate other parts of the government, he said.
During its past eight years in power, the DPP had turned the legislature into a “rubber stamp” for the government, Ko said, citing the party’s passage of a bill in 2019 to hold referendums separately from elections, which, according to critics, made it more difficult for referendums to pass.
The DPP-led legislature also failed to investigate other government controversies, such as a much-criticized egg import scheme last year, he said, adding that it also did not have sufficient powers to conduct investigations properly.
The draft amendments have been discussed in two legislative committee meetings, three public hearings and in cross-party negotiations since April 1, he said.
The current version of the bills was only advanced after efforts to reach a consensus failed, he added.
Even after they were taken up by the full legislature, the amendments were read out and voted on individually, in a way that “fully adheres” to Taiwan’s democratic processes, Ko said.
“The only difference is that these reform bills aren’t being pushed by the DPP, which is why it has been so eager to negate them,” he said.
The passage of the reforms, after “30 long years” and in a legislature in which no single party holds a majority, would “leave its mark on history,” he said.
“From today, Taiwan will have a more robust system of government,” he said, adding that he was thankful to all those who supported the bills, which constitute “a milestone in the history of Taiwan’s democracy.”
In other news, Ko told a news conference yesterday he is opposed to KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi’s (傅崐萁) proposal to create a special investigation division composed of opposition lawmakers.
The term refers to a now-defunct Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office that existed from April 2007 to November 2016.
Ko said that he has always opposed the SID as the organization did not represent the consistency and fairness expected of the law.
Top officials and ordinary Taiwanese should be treated the same in investigations and prosecutions, he said.
“The TPP is not in favor of establishing another SID,” he added.
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