Chaos broke out in the Taiwan Parliament on Friday due to a heated argument over a contentious reform bill. Amidst the disorder, Parliament member Guo Guowen quickly grabbed the bill documents and made a dramatic run to stop its passage, as seen in an online video.
🇹🇼 LMAO: A member of Taiwan’s parliament stole a bill “with the speed of an American football player” to prevent it from being passed.
-> That should just be an official process in any democracy. Love it … haha pic.twitter.com/0C4T4DbbSU
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 17, 2024
The incident took place only days before President-elect Lai Ching-te is scheduled to assume office on Monday. Lai won the January election, but his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lacks a majority in the legislature, according to Reuters.
The Kuomintang (KMT), the main opposition party, holds more seats than the DPP but lacks enough to independently control the parliament. Consequently, they are collaborating with the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to advance their shared objectives. The opposition aims to grant parliament increased authority to scrutinize the government’s actions, which includes a contentious proposal to penalize officials for falsehoods uttered in parliament.
Prior to the voting, certain lawmakers engaged in shouting matches and physical altercations outside the legislative chamber. Inside, the parliament floor descended into chaos, with lawmakers rushing towards the Speaker’s seat, leaping onto tables, and restraining colleagues on the floor. Further skirmishes ensued throughout the afternoon.
According to Khaleej Times, a lawmaker was hospitalized after sustaining head injuries from falling off a platform.
The DPP accused the KMT and TPP of attempting to push through proposals without adequate consultation, labeling it “an unconstitutional abuse of power.” DPP lawmaker Wang Mei-hui, representing the southern city of Chiayi, stated, “Why are we opposed? We want to be able to have discussions, not for there to be only one voice in the country,” reported Reuters.
Jessica Chen of the KMT, representing the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands near China, contended that the reforms aimed to enhance the legislature’s oversight of the executive branch. She asserted that the DPP opposes the bill’s passage “because they are used to having all the power.”