Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday continued to occupy the speaker’s podium at the Legislative Yuan to block proceedings on referendums proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
The legislature on March 25 passed a motion sending two KMT referendum proposals on “opposing the abolition of the death penalty” and “opposing martial law” to a second reading without the need for committee review after a contentious session marked by protests and legislative maneuvering.
The DPP said that the motion went against procedure and should be considered null.
Photo: CNA
The DPP caucus yesterday mobilized its lawmakers, with more than half of them camping outside the legislature overnight and entering the building at 7am to occupy the podium without opposition from the KMT or the Taiwan People’s Party.
The DPP lawmakers put up placards in the legislature with slogans such as “Illegal meetings, vote invalid,” “No discussion” and “Withdraw fake referendum proposals.”
They also put up a large banner with the Mandarin word, “Ba” (罷, “recall”) in blue at the center of the legislative chamber, symbolizing recall campaigns against KMT legislators.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Alicia Wang (王育敏) said that the DPP’s continued efforts to paralyze the legislature offer a bleak outlook for Taiwan’s future.
The DPP’s adamant refusal to consider extending the service life of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant shows that it is willing to defy the public will to achieve its goals, making Taiwan’s power policy outdated, Wang said.
She also said the DPP was refusing to consider holiday proposals.
The KMT would continue to push for reforms, as they would benefit the public, while the DPP’s actions show that it stands against the public will, she said.
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that the DPP believes in temperance and rationality when discussing legislative matters, adding that the party abides by standard procedure.
The DPP has called on Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to initiate cross-caucus negotiations, which Han has agreed to, Wu said, adding that the DPP was waiting for him to honor the deal.
If all parties convene to discuss matters and achieve consensus, legislative affairs would proceed smoothly, she said.
Additional reporting by CNA
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
RSS