TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Central Election Commission Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) said Wednesday it was unclear whether lawmakers would advance a KMT-backed proposal to hold a referendum on caning.
Speaking to the press before a legislative committee meeting, You said the proposal was still taking shape, CNA reported. He said the commission would monitor its progress and that its general principle is to approve referendum proposals passed by the legislature, with rejection treated as the exception.
However, You said it was not appropriate for him to state a position on the proposal at this stage. He said lawmakers had not yet decided whether to approve it as a referendum measure.
The proposal was submitted by KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) and 51 other lawmakers. It asks voters whether the government should pass a law allowing courts to order caning for sexual assault, child abuse, major fraud, and aggravated fraud, per Economic Daily News.
The proposal says these crimes harm sexual autonomy, children’s safety, property rights, public trust, and social order. It also says the public should decide whether Taiwan’s current criminal punishments are strong enough to satisfy expectations for justice and safety.
The legislature’s Procedure Committee on Tuesday reviewed the agenda for plenary meetings from Friday to June 2. The TPP caucus proposed sending the agenda draft, including the caning referendum proposal, to the full legislature, per UDN.
KMT and TPP lawmakers passed the motion with their combined majority. This means the proposal has been placed on the legislative agenda, but it has not yet been approved as a referendum.
