TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) announced on Monday (Jan. 5) that the party's seven legislators will resign on Friday (Jan. 31) under the "two-year clause policy" (兩年條款), which rules that the party's legislators-at-large can only hold in office for two years and shift the positions to the following nominees who were listed during the election. Huang signed his resignation letter on Monday morning, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the party's internal system. The TPP, Taiwan's third-largest political party, implemented the clause to promote political rotation and prevent career politicians.
Huang criticized Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislators for continuing to draw salaries while failing to concentrate on their work at the Legislative Yuan (立法院) by running for the party's mayoral elections in Tainan and Kaohsiung, calling their efforts superficial. The TPP chairman stated the two-year clause for other party members remains unaffected by his resignation. Huang confirmed he will continue participating in the party's morning meetings every Tuesday and Friday despite stepping down from the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament.
The TPP's summer congress last year upheld the two-year clause, Huang noted, unless former party chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) decides otherwise. Huang revealed Ko had suggested he remain in the legislature, but Huang believes his role as chairman requires strict adherence to party rules. Huang also noted that TPP legislator Chen Gau-tzu's (陳昭姿) legislative efforts to legalize surrogacy remain incomplete, clarifying this issue is handled separately by Chen and Ko. ◼