It is now facing a hostile coalition made up of the historic KMT – regarded as friendlier to Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory – and the upstart Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
The opposition alliance has tabled Bills to expand the powers of the legislature, which the DPP argues they are forcing through without proper consultation.
After a brawl broke out in parliament on Friday between lawmakers over the matter, the session resumed on Tuesday with DPP members unveiling a giant banner reading “No to power expansion”.
“I feel like I am in China’s National People’s Congress … the measures proposed by the KMT are actually selling out the country,” said DPP’s Ker Chien-ming.
Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, waved “Parliament needs reform” placards.
Among the five Bills proposed, the most controversial is a “contempt of parliament” offence, effectively criminalising officials unwilling to cooperate with legislative investigations – which critics say could be motivated by subjective politics.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwan-new-president-lai-ching-te-parliament-conflict-argument-election-4351376
