Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) today said he would attend the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) rally on Taipei’s Ketagalan Boulevard tomorrow, calling on citizens to join to support democracy and justice.
KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) announced the demonstration in response to investigations of the party’s alleged use of forged signatures in recall campaigns targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians.
The party has previously said that over 50,000 people signed up to attend the protest to "protect democracy" and oppose Lai.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Ahead of the rally, the Taipei City Police Department said yesterday that it has assigned 400 police officers to maintain security at the event, with more on call if needed.
That prosecutors are only pursuing recall fraud charges against KMT members and supporters cast doubt on their impartiality, Han said today in a media appearance at the Legislative Yuan. Han was alluding to the fact there are numerous recall campaigns against both KMT and DPP legislators.
The recall movement is one of “three knives hanging over the heads” of the Taiwanese public, along with the new US tariff policy and the Chinese Communist Party’s nearby military exercises, he said.
People from all walks of life are nervous, Han added.
In response to Han’s confirmation that he would attend tomorrow, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) said that the Legislative Speaker should be neutral and non-partisan, as it was in the past.
Han’s participation in the demonstration and his attacks on Taiwan’s judicial system show he is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the role, Wu said.
Han should maintain his neutrality and support the public’s right to recall politicians, rather than allow the Legislative Yuan to become a supporter of fraud and document forgery, DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) have also said they would attend the demonstration.
Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) has also expressed his intention to make an appearance.
Chu has accused President William Lai (賴清德) of using the recall movement to institute a dictatorship and eliminate the KMT.
Under Lai’s time in power which began last May, former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) and former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) have been arrested, Chu said.
KMT offices have been searched one by one this year, Chu added.
Continuing the comparison between Lai and dictatorships, Chu said that if Lai were to succeed in removing the KMT, he would become like an emperor.
Additional reporting by Huang Cheng-chia and Lee Wen-hsin
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