Council for a Community of Democracies

Opposition Party Gains Ground in Taiwan Election; Brawl in Parliament
January 20, 2010
By: Randi Zung

Following a legislative election in Taiwan on January 9, Taiwan's main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) now hold 30 seats within the country’s parliament. Now comprising more than 25 percent of the governing body, the DPP will have significant power over law-making decisions. The DPP now poses a challenge to the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) because it will now have the ability to question the president’s authority, as well as amend the constitution, reports AFP. The KMT currently holds 73 seats. AFP also reports that this is a significant setback for the KMT, the second since the party took office in May 2008 after an 8 year rule by the DPP. In addition, Tsai Chi-Chang, a spokesman from the DPP – which advocates for Taiwan to have independence from China – stated that their party’s gains in parliament were due to the increase in dissatisfaction with current president Ma Ying-Jeou. Tsai stated: “The public is dissatisfied with the Ma Ying-Jeou administration's poor performances and wishes to teach it a lesson”

According to an article by the Taipei Times, a brawl broke out during a session of parliament on January 18 between members of DPP and KMT over a dispute about the amendment of the Local Government Act, a piece of legislation that would give increased power and autonomy to township heads. The fighting began when KMT officials blocked a DPP speaker from the podium. Tseng Yung-Chuan, a KMT official, instead addressed the assembly despite DPP officials trying to steal his notes. DPP members Liu Chien-Kuo and Pan Meng-An are credited with being the instigators of the brawl. Following the bill clearing the assembly floor, the KMT party denounced the actions of the DPP, citing that “resorting to violence” was a deliberate attempt to stall legislative process. In addition, KMT members accused high ranking DPP officials of encouraging its members to use violence.

Reuters reports that Taiwan split from China in 1949, after Chinese leader Mao Zedong successfully forced Chiang Kai-Shek's KMT out of the mainland. Taiwan will hold its next presidential election in 2012.

Sources:
AFP - Taiwan opposition scores fresh election win
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jCWoMq-HlFp4xVwV9CFu1QFmfIBA

Reuters - Taiwan anti-China opposition gains legislative seats
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-45270820100109

Taipei Times - Legislative session plunges into chaos
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/01/19/2003463877

Also See:
CIA World Factbook – Taiwan
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tw.html