WAY FORWARD:
Han Kuo-yu said he is confident the premier and the opposition could work together, despite Lai’s ‘failure’ to resolve the standoff between branches
By Liu Wan-lin and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA
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Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) yesterday warned that Taiwan’s democracy must not be seen as a “fake democracy.”Taiwan’s democracy is showing signs of strain, Han said, speaking at the Double Ten National Day ceremony as chairman of the National Day Preparatory Committee. He cited last year’s recall campaigns against opposition lawmakers, which he described as “political persecution,” and the executive branch’s refusal to countersign bills passed by the legislature.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu delivers a speech during Double Ten National Day yesterday in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei.
Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA
He warned that the standoff between the Executive Yuan and the Legislative Yuan could damage Taiwan’s international reputation as a democracy, saying: “Taiwan must not be seen by the world as a ‘fake democracy, real dictatorship.’”Over the past year, he had accompanied lawmakers from different political parties on visits to countries around the world, where legislators had shown a keen interest in Taiwan and held highly favorable views of the nation, he said.
Such parliamentary diplomacy had enabled other people to hear the voice of the Republic of China (ROC), Han said, adding that through these exchanges, he had become convinced that Taiwanese could hold different political views, advocate different positions and engage in debate at home because this is democracy. He made three wishes as the nation celebrated its 115th birthday: a secure Taiwan, prosperity for its people and a thriving democracy. When it comes to national identity and ideology, Taiwanese should set aside their differences, consolidate strength and jointly defend the ROC, he said. As party leaders, decisionmakers and supervisors of government affairs, officials must recognize that without security, everything else is lost, Han said. “There will be no intact eggs in an overturned bird’s nest,” he said. Taiwan’s security must always come first, Han said, outlining four goals. First, Taiwan must do everything possible to defend and protect the ROC, he said. Second, Taiwan must protect democracy and freedom, Han said. Third, Taiwan must maintain good relations with the US, as its support is vital to the nation, he said. Fourth, Taiwan must preserve peace across the Taiwan Strait, he added. Taiwan’s democracy was built through generations of effort, and protecting it is a shared responsibility of the ruling and opposition parties, and the public, he said. President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration had failed to resolve the confrontation between the executive and legislative branches, causing serious damage to his reputation, Han said. He said he remained confident that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and the opposition parties could work together, expressing hope that Taiwan’s democracy would continue to advance. Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan were institutions that exercised their powers in accordance with the Constitution and should respect each other’s authority while jointly upholding constitutional order. Neither side should exceed its constitutional boundaries or stigmatize constitutional mechanisms for political gain, she added. Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) questioned whether Han had turned a national birthday celebration into a political denunciation rally. People exercising their legal right to recall elected officials should not be branded as engaging in “political persecution,” and constitutional disputes between the executive and legislative branches should be resolved through institutional mechanisms and dialogue, he said. If Han expected the ruling and opposition parties to put aside their differences, he should lead by example in his own remarks, Chuang said, adding that the legislative speaker should build bridges for communication rather than intensify political confrontation. Additional reporting by Chung Li-hua, Hsu Yung-ching