TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT) legislators clashed on Monday morning (July 8) over a proposed KMT bill that would make it more difficult to recall elected officials.
On Thursday (July 4), committee co-convener Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei (高金素梅) scheduled a review of the amendments, but a clash broke out between the DPP and KMT. DPP legislators occupied the rostrum to block proceedings, while Kao unsuccessfully tried to change the meeting's location, reported CNA.
Kao then scheduled a review of the bill for Monday. However, DPP caucus members mobilized at 6 a.m. to prevent the bill from being passed in the preliminary review.
Although the DPP legislators were the first to enter the meeting room and occupy the rostrum to prevent a review of the amendments, KMT legislators pushed forward, and fighting ensued between the two sides.
DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) said KMT Legislator Wang Hong-wei (王鴻薇) slapped her leading to injuries causing her earring to fall off and her chin to bleed. Wang said Lin grabbed, kicked, and hit her during the altercation.
The Internal Administration Committee was slated to review draft amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) that would raise the threshold and add conditions for recalling elected officials, such as legislators, mayors, county magistrates, and councilors.