Taiwan referendum numbers spark debate between election chief and KMT

Taiwan's Central Election Commission Chairman You Ying-lung has cautioned against an excessive number of referendums, stating that holding more than three would place a significant strain on the nation's democratic processes. He suggested that one referendum would be ideal, two would be "a bit much," and three would be "unbearable."

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this year's number of referendums is just right, two is a bit much, three is unbearable

In response, the Kuomintang (KMT) caucus, through its secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang, urged the Central Election Commission to uphold administrative neutrality. Lin likened the commission's role to a referee, emphasizing that the whistle should not be blown before the game begins, implying a need for impartiality throughout the process.

The KMT caucus expressed disappointment with the commission's current stance, pointing to the 2018 referendum, which saw 10 proposals put to a vote following amendments to the Referendum Act. They argued that democracy thrives on empowering citizens to make decisions, not on limiting their choices.

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the referee should not blow the whistle before the game starts

Lin Pei-hsiang asserted that democracy should not be feared for allowing people to decide. He questioned whether future referendums would be further restricted, suggesting a potential move towards holding only one or none at all. The KMT believes that the purpose of referendums is to return the power of decision-making on major policies to the people, rather than allowing administrative agencies to dictate the scope of public participation.

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democracy is not afraid of people making decisions, but should believe that people are capable of making decisions