TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) has proposed relocating the Legislative Yuan to the Taipei Grand Hotel, citing space constraints at the current complex.
Han suggested moving the legislature either to the Grand Hotel or constructing a new complex at the former Ministry of National Defense Air Force Command Headquarters site, now home to the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, per Liberty Times. He said a new complex could take up to 17 years to complete and cost as much as NT$100 billion (US$3.1 billion), making relocation to the Grand Hotel his preferred option.
Han said the hotel could be converted into a conference and office venue, while the current Legislative Yuan site could be transformed into libraries or a legislative museum. He has discussed the proposal with caucus whips from the three major parties on multiple occasions but has not received positive feedback.
While the KMT responded favorably to the proposal, the ruling DPP criticized it. DPP Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Chih-hung (林智鴻) said Han was trying to shift public attention away from what he described as opposition stonewalling of the 2026 central government budget and the special defense budget, per Liberty Times.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) criticized Han for not clearly stating his positions during cross-party negotiations, per SETN. She said that if Han — whom she described as being better known for ordering bentos and organizing birthday celebrations — wants to be remembered for relocating the legislature, he has her blessing.
KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) voiced support for Han’s proposal, noting that relocating the legislature had been discussed under former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平). Hung said Han could invite lawmakers from all parties to deliberate on the plan.
DPP Taichung mayoral candidate Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) said previous site assessments included locations in Taichung, per Mirror Media. She called on Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) to comment on why Taichung was not included in Han’s latest proposal.
KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), who is competing with Chiang for the party’s Taichung mayoral nomination, also weighed in, per UDN. She said relocating the legislature to Taichung could help balance regional development.
The Taichung City Government’s Urban Development Bureau said it had previously proposed six potential sites for relocating the legislature, five of which remain available, per UDN. The sites, including Chenggongling, offer advantages such as convenient transportation links and large tracts of publicly owned land.
The current Legislative Yuan complex was converted from a former women’s high school and has long been criticized for inadequate space, per NOWNews. Although relocating the legislature has been periodically discussed, high projected costs have deterred successive KMT and DPP speakers from moving forward.
