TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Tensions flared outside the Legislative Yuan (立法院) on Tuesday (May 21) as lawmakers continued to review bills related to parliamentary reform, sparking confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties at the entrance.
Concurrently, over a thousand of protesters gathered on Qingdao E Rd (青島東路) to voice their opposition against what they perceive as parliamentary overreach, marking a significant moment of civic unrest in Taipei.
The protest, organized by several civic groups, aimed to highlight the alleged opacity of the parliamentary proceedings, with chants of "No discussion, no democracy" echoing through the crowd. The demonstrators specifically targeted Huang Kuo-chang of the Taiwan People's Party (民眾黨, TPP), accusing him of hypocrisy by comparing his current actions to those he opposed during the Sunflower Student Movement (太陽花運動) a decade ago. This accusation resonated with the attendees, leading to widespread cheers and agreement.
Demands for Democratic Integrity
The civic groups laid out five key demands, emphasizing the need for parliamentary reform that respects the separation of powers and protects citizens' rights. They called for the rejection of the "May 17 proceedings" and criticized the legislative process for bypassing substantial discussions on proposals from various parties. Their demands also included a call to stop the abuse of practices such as 'directly proceeding to the second reading(逕付二讀),' 'retaining the entire case(全案保留),' 'killing proposals(封殺提案),' and 'motion to adjourn(散會動議),' which they argue undermine democratic principles.