Taiwan’s parliament descended into chaos as lawmakers engaged in violent confrontations during a contentious debate over proposed chamber reforms. The melee occurred just days before President-elect Lai Ching-te was scheduled to take office without holding a legislative majority, underscoring the volatile political climate.
The session erupted into shouting, shoving, and even lawmakers leaping over tables to pull colleagues to the floor. This disorder mirrors the deep-seated tensions between factions over the legislative changes being proposed.
Opposition parties, including the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), have vehemently criticized the reform process. They argue that the reforms are being expedited without the usual consultative procedures, calling it an “unconstitutional abuse of power.”
The proposed changes aim to enhance parliamentary oversight over the government, including criminalizing false statements by officials during parliamentary sessions.
Conversely, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accuses the opposition of disrupting legislative protocols and attempting to push through reforms without adequate discussion.