TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) organized a march and demonstration in Taipei outside the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) headquarters to protest the conduct of the outgoing Tsai administration on Sunday (May 19). 

Scheduled the day before the inauguration of Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to the presidency, the “519 Grassroots Action” demonstration began with a march from the Control Yuan at 12:30 to the DPP headquarters. Then the crowd gathered on Beiping East Rd. to hear speakers from the TPP until 4 p.m.

Organizers reported a crowd of over 8,000 people at the event, but other estimates placed the turnout around 5,000, per UDN. Over 200 Taipei police officers were monitoring the crowd, but no incidents of violence or misconduct were reported. 

Speakers at the rally, including party chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), criticized the Tsai administration for delaying urgent constitutionals, legislative, and judicial reforms over the past 8 years despite controlling the Legislative Yuan. The TPP also criticized the Tsai administration for failing to deliver on promises to improve general living standards, per reports.

The TPP distributed thousands of guava fruit to supporters during the event. The Taiwanese word for guava is a pun for a “bounced check” and was used by dissatisfied TPP supporters to symbolize “wasted votes” on the DPP which elected Tsai, along with the incoming Lai administration.