Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) yesterday said the Legislative Yuan has a “Gang of Four” trying to destroy the nation and dismantle the democratic system.
Singling out Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), Ker told a press conference that it was the two parties’ leaders who contrived to force through three amendment bills on Friday, which Ker said would “ruin democratic institutions, paralyze the Constitutional Court and plunder the government.”
The amendments passed on Friday after brawls between lawmakers from the opposition and DPP.
Photo: Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei Times
The amendments included changes to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) that stipulate those proposing and signing recall petitions provide a copy of the front and back of their national ID cards.
Amendments to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) would require 10 judges for a quorum and the support of at least nine judges before legislation can be declared unconstitutional.
Amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) increase funding allocations to local governments.
“All citizens should stand up and rally together to defend Taiwan’s democracy. We must let them know that the combined 62 legislators of the KMT and TPP cannot override the wishes of Taiwan’s 23 million people,” Ker said. “Taiwan is now in a crucial moment, facing a crisis of life and death. So we all must unite as one to defend democratic values, and safeguard our nation’s future.”
Ker held negotiations with Han and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to persuade the speaker to follow legislative procedure during the process, he said.
More time is needed for discussion, public input and deliberation on the amendments, Ker said, adding that six months of deliberation on the details of government revenues and expenditures would be needed before presenting the bill.
However, the KMT demanded that DPP legislators must not stage protests, must not occupy the speaker’s podium, and that on amending the recall election law, the DPP must not request a constitutional interpretation, Ker said.
All three bills must pass the third reading by the end of this month, Ker quoted the KMT negotiators as saying.
These conditions are instructed by the Beijing government, designed to dismantle democracy and end the existence of Taiwan as a country, Ker said.
Separately, the Judicial Reform Foundation in a statement yesterday condemned the two opposition parties, accusing them of ravaging the nation’s judiciary system.
The opposition parties used violence and roughshod ways that contravened legislative procedures, it said.
Additional reporting by staff writer
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
RSS