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Nuclear Power Plant shows that it is willing to defy the public will to achieve its goals, making Taiwan’s power policy outdated, Wang said.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
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