Rallies supporting recall efforts targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers as well as a rally organized by the KMT opposing the recall campaigns are to take place in Taipei today.
Traffic controls were in place on Taipei City Hall Road starting from 10pm last night, and would be in place on Jinan Road Sec 1 from 8am today, police said.
Recall campaign groups in Taipei and New Taipei City advocating the recall of KMT legislators, along with the “Safeguard Taiwan Anti-Communist Alliance” have announced plans for motorcycle parades and public rallies in both cities today.
Photo: Hua Meng-ching, Taipei Times
Permission has been granted for campaigners to hold a rally on Jinan Road Sec 1 between 8am and 10pm today, Taipei Police Department’s Zhongzheng First Precinct said yesterday.
Participants are expected to arrive at the venue from 5:30pm, police said, adding that traffic control would be expanded to Zhongshan S Road if there is a huge crowd.
The road is to reopen at about 1am tomorrow after the event concludes and all participants have dispersed, police said, adding that traffic conditions would determine if controls are lifted earlier or extended.
Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Taipei Times
Public bus routes passing through the controlled areas would be rerouted during the rally, police said, advising commuters to check the Taipei City Public Transportation Office Web site for relevant information.
Separately, the KMT is to hold a rally at Taipei City Hall Plaza today.
The rally is to take place on City Hall Road from 3pm to 5:30pm, the Taipei Police Department’s Xinyi Precinct said.
Traffic controls were in place in the surrounding area from 10pm last night, police said.
In related news, starting on July 16, 10 days before the first wave of recall votes on July 26, it would be illegal to publish or distribute recall polling data, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said.
Recall votes for 24 KMT lawmakers and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), formerly a member of the Taiwan People’s Party, are scheduled to take place on that date.
The CEC on Thursday said that under the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), all individuals and political parties are forbidden from disseminating, reporting, spreading, commenting on and citing recall polling data or related information from July 16 to 26.
All polls before the restricted period must clearly cite the name of the pollster, the survey period, sampling method, population size, sample size, margin of error and source of funding, it said.
Individuals and political parties are strictly prohibited from conducting public recall campaign activities before 7am or after 10pm, and on the date of the vote, it added.
Online and media recall advertisements, which are less disruptive, are not subject to such time restrictions, the CEC said.
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