Lawmakers clashed in Taiwan's legislature on Friday over three controversial bills being pushed through by the Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang. The bills include one that critics argue would paralyze the Constitutional Court, another that would tighten requirements for voter petitions to recall elected officials, and a third that would redistribute tax revenues to local governments.
The Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, opposing these bills, took extreme measures by breaking into the legislature building overnight to occupy the speaker's chair. They barricaded the area with chairs to block access, leading to a physical confrontation when members of the Kuomintang forced their way in to evict them.
Photos and videos of the clash showed chaotic scenes with lawmakers from both parties shoving each other and using mineral water as a weapon. The Kuomintang eventually gained control of the speaker's area, allowing Speaker Han Kuo-yu to resume his position.
The DPP's actions were deemed extreme but necessary as negotiations on the bills had failed to resolve differences between the parties. Thousands of DPP supporters protested outside the legislature, expressing concerns that the bills would undermine Taiwan's democratic system.
One protester, a postgraduate student named Stevie Kuo, highlighted the potential negative impacts of the bills, stating that they could paralyze the court, strain the central government's finances, and make it harder to recall elected officials. The sentiment among the protesters was that these measures would significantly harm Taiwan and go against the will of the people.
This clash is part of the ongoing power struggle between the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party, neither of which holds a majority in the legislature. The Kuomintang, in alliance with a minor party, is challenging President Lai Ching-te and the DPP for control, leading to heightened tensions and confrontations within the Taiwanese political landscape.
Lawmakers in Taiwan have a history of physical altercations, with a notable incident in 2020 involving the throwing of pig guts over a decision to lift a ban on U.S. pork and beef imports.
