TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus whip Huang Kuo-Chang on Tuesday (March 5) gave a supportive yet cautious response to Kuomintang's (KMT) proposed law to criminalize contempt of the legislative body, stating the need for further discussion.
The KMT caucus has prioritized legislation that would penalize bogus statements provided by executive officials when questioned. Penalties for violations could range from detention or fines to criminal charges.
This move by the KMT has sparked opposition from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
While the proposed law's intent to strengthen oversight aligns with the TPP's objectives, during the party's press conference on judicial reform, Huang expressed concerns regarding the actual wording, as the content must comply with Taiwan's existing constitutional structure
Huang also cited regulations in the U.S., Germany, and Britain that criminalize fraudulent statements in parliament, fitting the expectations of most people. However, he believes that more discourse and exchange of ideas are needed on the finer details of the legal framework for this proposed law.