The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday convened to discuss referendums to counter Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposals, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) said yesterday.
The DPP has proposed four referendums aimed at the opposition party, a challenge the KMT would not shy from, Fu said.
The KMT referendums would focus heavily on the welfare of Taiwanese, he said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Some local media reported that a participant at the caucus meeting said they had discussed proposing a referendum against the abolition of the death penalty to counter recall campaigns against KMT legislators.
That person also said the party hoped the recall vote could be on the same day as voting on referendums, expected to be held on Aug. 23.
Asked if the party would propose a referendum to keep the death penalty, Fu said the caucus had not yet arrived at a consensus, adding that it must complete all procedures before May 23, leaving little time to prepare additional proposals on capital punishment.
Under amendments to the Referendum Act (公民投票法), referendums are held every two years on the fourth Saturday of August.
Referendum proposals need 1,995 signatures to pass the initial threshold and 290,000 signatures to be sustained, the KMT said.
If a proposal does not meet referendum requirements, the party is considering proposing it at the Legislative Yuan, it said.
Under Article 15 of the Referendum Act, if the legislature deems it necessary to hold a referendum, it can — after the main text and the statement of reasons for the referendum are adopted in a plenary session — forward the proposal to the Central Election Commission for implementation within 10 days.
Separately, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said during a meeting of the KMT’s Central Standing Committee that he would shoulder all responsibility for the controversy generated by the party’s recall proposals and asked supporters to stop blaming volunteers.
Thirty-two recall proposals against KMT members had passed signature thresholds, while all recall proposals against DPP members have failed to pass and require supplementary signatures.
The party is in close contact with legislators on the issue of recalls and understands the importance of effectively mobilizing supporters.
The KMT recognizes that some parts of its recall campaign were not perfect, Chu said, adding that he is responsible as party chairman.
Additional reporting by CNA
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