Taiwan’s parliament on Thursday elected a former presidential candidate from the principle opposition get together as its new speaker. The chairman is answerable for entertaining visiting international parliamentarians, and the ruling get together is a pro-China determine.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gained final month’s presidential election however misplaced its parliamentary majority. China, which claims Taiwan as its personal regardless of opposition from the Taipei authorities, views the Democratic Progressive Party as separatist.
Under Taiwan’s presidential system, the president appoints the prime minister, however the Democratic Progressive Party, which at the moment lacks a majority in parliament, should work with opposition events to cross legislative agendas.
The primary opposition get together, the Kuomintang (KMT), gained yet one more seat than the DPP, however the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) gained eight seats, giving the KMT a majority within the 113-member parliament.
Han Yu of the Kuomintang Party, who was defeated by Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party within the 2020 presidential election, gained the chairman election. TPP abstained from voting as a result of his personal candidate misplaced within the first spherical.
Han denies being pro-China, critics harshly criticize go to to China
“The majority of Taiwanese folks count on a Legislative Yuan that’s not targeted on fight, however is critical about governance, united and cooperative, and devoted to the welfare of the Taiwanese folks,” Han instructed reporters. I believe so,” he stated. utilizing the official title of the parliament.
During the marketing campaign, the Democratic Progressive Party ran a TV advert highlighting Mr. Han’s go to to the Chinese authorities’s liaison workplace in Hong Kong earlier than his candidacy was introduced in 2019, noting that it was his “most favourite place.” ” stated the placement.
In the identical yr, Mr. Han additionally visited mainland China, assembly with senior Chinese officers and reaffirming his dedication to the place that Taiwan and China belong to “one China.”
“There isn’t any risk that he met with figures from the United Front Work Department or the People’s Liberation Army,” Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Puma Shen instructed Reuters, referring to Chinese Communist Party organs charged with spreading affect and propaganda overseas. very excessive,” he instructed Reuters.
Mr. Han didn’t reply to questions from the media, however just like the KMT, he has strongly denied being pro-China.
Kuomintang lawmaker Hung Mong Khai instructed Reuters the accusations have been unfair and pure electioneering.
“It’s the worst ploy to dye us purple, the colour of the Communist Party,” he stated.
Mr. Han, identified colloquially as “Korean Fish” after his title’s pronunciation, additionally served as mayor of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan till he was eliminated in a re-election vote following his defeat within the 2020 presidential election. .