Taiwanese legislator criticizes opposition's referendum proposals as vote-grabbing stunts

Taiwan's Central Election Commission has decided not to approve two referendum proposals put forth by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), concerning "whipping" and "dedicated traffic fines." The commission did approve one proposal related to "non-nuclear homeland."

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The opposition parties are blaming the DPP and President Lai Ching-te, but in reality, even the election commission members recommended by the opposition voted against the whipping proposal, turning their attempt to use referendums to trick voters into a major embarrassment.

Following the decision, KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai, the lead proponent of the "whipping" referendum, criticized the commission, stating that citizens' right to express their views should not be preemptively denied. He characterized the decision as a concrete example of democratic regression in Taiwan. Similarly, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang condemned the rejection of the "dedicated traffic fines" proposal, calling the commission's reasoning vague and abstract, and accusing it of overstepping its role to become a "super-emperor" of referendums.

In response, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin Chun-hsien argued that the opposition parties are engaging in a futile blame game, unfairly targeting the DPP and President Lai Ching-te. Lin pointed out that the "whipping" proposal was unanimously rejected by the election commission, including approximately four members recommended by the opposition parties themselves. He suggested that this outcome turned the opposition's attempt to use referendums for vote-grabbing into a "big joke."

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The decision is the most concrete proof of democratic regression in Taiwan.

Lin further addressed the "dedicated traffic fines" proposal, citing the Referendum Act, which prohibits topics related to salaries, budgets, taxes, and personnel from being included in referendums. This is intended to prevent populist measures and referendums on non-critical issues. He noted that the DPP had previously proposed legislation with content similar to the TPP's proposal, but the TPP and KMT voted against it in the legislature. Lin criticized the opposition's strategy, stating that with their majority in the Legislative Yuan, they could easily pass any legislation they desired, making the use of referendums for such matters a clear attempt to manipulate voters and a nonsensical approach.

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The Central Election Commission's reasoning is vague and abstract, and it has overstepped its role to become a 'super-emperor' of referendums.