TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Tens of thousands protested in Taipei on Tuesday night (May 21) against the opposition parties' amendments to expand legislative oversight to scrutinize the government.
The controversial bills were set forth by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which hold the majority in the legislature and sought additional powers to supervise the executive branch. The crowd, mostly young supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), gathered outside Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, with signs such as “protect democracy, withdraw the bills” and “no discussion, no democracy.”
Before midnight on Tuesday, the amendments had passed the second reading in the Legislative Yuan, concluding an almost 15-hour plenary session that started at 9 a.m., per CNA. The bills address the “Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power” and seek to strengthen lawmakers' "exercise of investigative rights.”
Under the new amendments, the legislature can create investigative committees with the power to access documents from government agencies, the military, and private associations and individuals. It can also hold hearings to summon individuals for testimony.
In addition, the amendments target government personnel, punishing those who commit "contempt of the legislature." Those who refuse to answer, withhold, conceal, or give false information when questioned by lawmakers during an interpellation session can be fined between NT$20,000 (US$619) and NT$200,000, or face impeachment and other disciplinary measures.
The bills also affect government appointments in the Judicial Yuan, the Control Yuan, the Examination Yuan, and certain independent agencies. Lawmakers must vote by “open ballot” instead of the present secret ballot on nominations to these key government positions.
The KMT said the amendments are necessary to increase government oversight, leading to better transparency and accountability. It accused the DPP of not being accountable to the public during its past eight years in power.
However, the DPP and protesters on Tuesday criticized what they called a lack of discussion on the bills before they were read in the legislature. Taiwanese amendments must pass three readings to turn into law.
The floor vote will continue on Friday (May 24) and Tuesday (May 28). Protest organizers and civil society groups called on people to gather outside the Legislative Yuan again on these two days.
