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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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What's New
Taiwanese lawmakers broke out into a brawl this week over contested bills after lawmakers from a major political party, who had occupied the speaker's chair overnight, clashed with members of a rival party attempting to forcefully remove them from the chamber.
Several lawmakers were injured during the confrontation, according to Taiwanese media reports, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear.
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Why It Matters
The dispute centers on three bills pushed by the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), including one that opponents argue could cripple the constitutional Court. Lawmakers passed a measure tightening requirements for voter petitions to recall elected officials, while debates on the remaining bills stretched into the night.
One of the pending proposals aims to redistribute tax revenues, allocating a greater share to local governments.
Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers, who argue the bills endanger Taiwan's democratic system, entered the legislature Thursday night by removing windows and seizing the speaker's area, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. They barricaded the space with stacks of chairs to block access.
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What To Know
Photos and videos from the morning clash captured chaotic scenes as KMT lawmakers attempted to dismantle chair barricades or climb over a ledge leading to the speaker's area. Opposing lawmakers pushed back, hurling chairs and spraying mineral water at them from plastic bottles.
Clad in matching white windbreakers, the Nationalists eventually regained control of the chamber, clearing the way for Speaker Han Kuo-yu to assume his position.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sought to block votes on the proposed bills, escalating tensions with the KMT.
Neither party secured a majority in the most recent legislative election, but the KMT, which won a slight edge in seats, has partnered with a smaller party to take control of the legislature. This power struggle puts the KMT at odds with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, who represents the DPP.
A DPP leader acknowledged in a social media video Thursday night that the party's actions were extreme but said they had no other choice, according to the Central News Agency. Efforts to negotiate the bills have so far failed to bridge the divide between the parties.
Thousands of DPP supporters gathered outside the legislature Thursday night and into Friday to protest.
Taiwan's legislature has a history of physical confrontations. In 2020, lawmakers hurled pig guts at each other during a heated dispute over the government's decision to lift a ban on U.S. pork and beef imports.
What People Are Saying
One protester, a postgraduate student Stevie Kuo: accused the KMT and its allies of attempting to cripple the courts, weaken the central government's finances, and tighten the rules for recalling elected officials. "I think these three things will considerably harm Taiwan," Kuo said. "The people do not want this to happen."
What's Next
It is currently unclear if the two others bills will be passed by lawmakers in Taiwan.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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