[Epoch Times October 24, 2021](Epoch Times reporters Wu Minzhou and Li Yixin reported from Taipei, Taiwan) Taiwan’s Fundamental Party legislator Chen Baiwei passed on the 23rd, but agreed to remove votes lower than elected votes, triggering whether the current removal threshold is over Low controversy. Ke Jianming, the chief of the DPP caucus, stated on the 24th that the threshold for recall should indeed be discussed and coordinated, but “we lost yesterday, and we have to turn the table today”; KMT legislator Lin Weizhou also believes that it can be discussed rationally, but the timing is not appropriate.
Under the promotion of the Democratic Progressive Party and the Times Forces, the Legislative Yuan passed the amendment to the “Public Officials Election Law” at the end of 2016, and the original “double two-one” system was adopted for the removal threshold (more than one-half of the electors voted, and the voters were divided into two. One or more of them agreed), and the votes were revised down substantially to a relative majority, but the votes of agreement must reach one-fourth of the total number of electors.
Since the introduction of the new law, the former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Guoyu and the former Taoyuan City Councillor Wang Haoyu have been removed one after another, setting a record for the removal of the mayor and congressman. Chen Baiwei was elected as a legislator in Taichung’s second constituency in 2020 with 112,839 votes. However, he was successfully recalled on the 23rd. There were 77,899 votes in favor of the recall, 4,466 votes more than the disapproval votes.
As Chen Baiwei was elected as a legislator with more than 110,000 votes, the recall was only established with 70,000 votes, triggering discussions from all walks of life on whether the threshold for recall is too low. Lin Weizhou said on the 24th that whether to amend the threshold for removal can be open for discussion, but at this stage there is still a case of non-party legislator Lin Changzuo’s recall being promoted, and Chen Bowei has just been removed. If the law is revised at this time, people from all walks of life will feel that the DPP cannot lose. At least we have to wait until next year or even the next legislators to discuss when there is no promotion of the recall.
Regarding the possible direction of law revision, Lin Weizhou believes that county mayors or single-seat legislators may get a lot of votes, but only 25% of the votes will be dismissed. There will be irrationality. Of course, it can be discussed rationally. However, the current timing is not appropriate, not to mention the fact that it was even more strange that the DPP proposed amendments that led the revision of the “election law” at that time.
Ke Jianming said that Taiwan’s democracy has reached this level, and everyone is discussing whether the recall mechanism is correct. As for when will the amendment be proposed? He believes that it is not suitable to deal with it immediately. As for how to propose and how to do it, it remains to be determined.
As for whether the recall will impact the end-of-year referendum? Ke Jianming said that it is indeed a very good warning. The follow-up referendum and other work should be re-adjusted and discussed internally after the recall case. This is a topic that has too great an impact on Taiwan.
DPP legislator Xu Zhijie said on the 24th that the “election law” does have room for discussion, but he does not support changing back to the previous “double 21” birdcage system, and hopes that the proposal will change the removal threshold to 35%, which is more pragmatic.
Xu Zhijie said that the fact that the DPP has to remove members of a single party in the dark green constituency is a simple matter, but when will the injustice be reported? Therefore, the recall system must be revised to avoid retaliatory recall from continuing to cause social opposition.
Lawyer: Taiwan’s democratic defense mechanism is insufficient
Lawyer Huang Diying posted on Facebook on the 23rd that Chen Baiwei’s removal highlights the inadequacy of Taiwan’s democratic defense mechanism. The CCP’s involvement in the recall case from CCTV to the diplomatic system is overwhelming with false information from overseas accounts to domestic pro-China politicians. “Today they It succeeded.”
Huang Diying believes that since the recall system has been abused, before the system is amended, the proposition that war should be stopped should be respected. After the removal of a Taiwanese legislator, if a civic association initiates the removal of a pro-neutral legislator, it should be supported and respected based on political balance and democratic defense.
Akio Yaita: Taiwan has no capital and loses
Akio Yaita, the director of the Taipei branch of Japan’s Sankei Shimbun, stated on Facebook on the 23rd that the case of Chen Baiwei’s removal was a battle to defend Taiwan’s local values. It’s a pity! The battle was lost. He mentioned that Taiwan’s security has three lines of defense. The first line of defense is Beijing. Only when China achieves freedom of speech and democratic elections can Taiwan be truly safe. Therefore, the people of Taiwan should more actively help promote China’s democratization.
Akio Yaita pointed out that the second line of defense is in the Taiwan Strait. Now not only is the national army waiting for it, but it is also supported by warships from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Once there is a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, Japan will never sit back and watch. The third and final line of defense is within Taiwan. How to prevent the CCP from infiltrating and how to defend Taiwan’s local values is very important to Taiwan.
Akio Yaita said, can’t think of any help in improving Taiwan’s people’s livelihood, enhancing Taiwan’s international status, and promoting Taiwan’s progress by removing a legislator from a small party who is serious about doing things when the epidemic is just slowing down and everything is waiting to be revived? On the contrary, it will encourage internal opposition, create hatred, and divide society.
Akio Yaita further stated that if you are familiar with the CCP’s infiltration and differentiation tactics in Taiwan, it is not difficult to see that the only series of vicious attacks on Chen Bai were by no means directed at him, but the CCP’s hegemonic attack on Taiwan’s local values. According to his observation, the next battlefield will be transferred to Taipei Wanhua. And “Taiwan no longer has the capital to lose. God bless Taiwan!”
Editor in charge: Lu Meiqi
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