Tens of thousands of supporters of Taiwan’s ruling party are expected to gather outside parliament on Friday following the passage of a highly controversial “contempt of parliament” bill.
The opposition Kuomintang party (KMT) claims the new law is essential to address the power imbalance between the legislature and Taiwan’s powerful presidency. However, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) argues that it’s an unconstitutional power grab intended as retaliation against the DPP-led government by President William Lai Ching-te.
The bill grants Taiwan’s parliament more authority to interrogate and investigate the executive branch, allowing it to subpoena government officials and private individuals, potentially forcing them to hand over sensitive documents. It also includes a “contempt of legislature” clause, imposing fines and up to a year in prison for officials who disrespect parliament. This clause has been heavily criticized by legal scholars for exceeding the norms of other democratic countries.
When the bill was introduced in May, massive protests erupted in Taipei, with tens of thousands surrounding parliament for days. The protests subsided when the bill was sent to President Lai’s office for approval. Lai returned the bill to parliament for review, and it passed again quickly with support from a fragile coalition of the KMT, the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), and independents.
The DPP has called for its supporters to rally, even if only as a symbolic opposition to the bill. In contrast, the KMT’s counter-protest on Friday drew hundreds, far fewer than the DPP’s demonstrations last month. The protests have highlighted a deep political divide in Taiwan between DPP and KMT supporters.
The KMT, the party of the Chinese nationalists, once ruled Taiwan with an iron fist, suppressing calls for democracy or independence. Many older DPP leaders were jailed for their radical views. Now, the two parties compete for power through elections, but old suspicions cause gridlock in parliament.
Just one month into President Lai’s term, the lack of a parliamentary majority makes significant legislative progress unlikely. Outside the legislature, thousands of DPP supporters see the contempt of parliament bill as a legislative coup. “The process is very unjust and has skipped any substantial discussion,” says 33-year-old Powei Chang. “The bill is very dangerous and lacks clear definition. It’s a way for legislators to expand their powers without the people’s consent.”
The protesters, representing a cross-section of Taiwanese society, are united by a strong sense of Taiwanese identity and distrust of the KMT’s motives. Many fear the bill is influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “We can’t let those trying to sell out Taiwan think they can act without opposition,” says Eden Hsu. Protesters believe KMT leaders are aligned with Beijing, citing frequent visits by senior KMT politicians to China, including former KMT President Ma Ying-jeou’s recent trips.
Despite rumors and suspicions, there’s no concrete evidence of collusion between senior KMT leaders and Beijing. The KMT leadership denies the allegations, emphasizing its long history of opposing the CCP. Alexander Huang, head of the KMT’s international department, insists the bill aims to make the executive more accountable.
During KMT’s presidency and legislative control from 2008 to 2016, it resisted similar laws, which the DPP then supported. The KMT has suggested it might investigate DPP leaders once the bill becomes law. “For eight years the DPP had a super majority, controlling both the executive and legislature and enjoying Taiwan’s resources,” says Huang.
