Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) yesterday said that he would attend a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rally in Taipei today, drawing criticism from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which said he was failing to keep a neutral stance.
The KMT has organized a rally on Ketagalan Boulevard to “protect democracy” and oppose President William Lai (賴清德).
Alongside Han, other top KMT figures, including Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) have confirmed that they would attend the rally, as has Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
Prosecutors are only pursuing charges against KMT members over alleged signature fraud in campaigns to recall legislators, casting doubt on the impartiality of the judiciary, Han said, referring to investigations as the KMT and the DPP run campaigns targeting lawmakers on the other side of the aisle.
The recall movements are one of “three knives hanging over the heads” of the public, along with US tariff policies and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military exercises, he said.
KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has accused Lai of using the DPP’s recall efforts to institute a “dictatorship” and “eliminate the KMT,” adding that if his plans succeed, Lai would become “like an emperor.”
DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said the rally has become a power struggle among KMT heavyweights fighting for control of the party.
“This KMT rally has the wrong target if it really does seek to ‘fight dictatorship,’” Wu said.
“Why would it protest on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building, not in Tiananmen Square?” she asked.
Taiwan has freedom and democracy, so if the KMT wants to fight dictatorship, it should protest in Beijing against the CCP dictatorship there, she added.
She also criticized Han.
“The Constitution grants Taiwanese the right to recall unsuitable politicians and the Legislative Yuan should respect their right to do so,” Wu said.
“As legislative speaker, Han should keep a neutral stance, and facilitate the examination and approval of legislation to enhance national security,” she said.
It is a lawmaker’s duty to improve the nation’s legal framework to protect it against Chinese militarism, which is undermining regional peace,” she added.
DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) reiterated the stance that the speaker should be neutral and non-partisan.
Han’s announcement that he would participate in the rally today and his attacks on Taiwan’s judicial system show that he is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the role, he said.
Additional reporting by Huang Cheng-chia and Lee Wen-hsin
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