President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in her role as Democratic Progressive Party chairperson yesterday urged members of the public to vote “no” on all four referendum items on Saturday, calling on them to help “make Taiwan more powerful.”
Tsai convened a internal party meeting in Kaohsiung, from where her address was broadcast online.
Heads of local governments in southern Taiwan led by the DPP attended the meeting, including the mayors of Kaohsiung and Tainan.
Taiwan should continue on its successful path, Tsai said, citing as example that the nation’s GDP per capita is expected to surpass that of South Korea by 2025.
“The referendum
Saturday’s four referendums have caused a catfight between supporters and opponents, when, strictly speaking, the four questions are not even fit to be put to referendums, which are designed to make up for shortcomings in the legislature.
Moreover, such questions should be comprehensible and accessible to the public, not overly complicated.
For example, the third question regarding restarting construction at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) directly concerns only people who reside in the area, while people in southern areas might not give their vote on the issue due consideration.
Similarly, the question over relocating a liquefied
Things have heated up in the past few months, with the four referendums on Saturday and next month’s by-election for the legislative seat in Taichung’s second electoral district drawing attention.
The nation’s political parties have attempted to use the two events to help their own causes.
However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and some lawmakers have overstepped their roles and functions, either neglecting their duties or even violating the Constitution.
The KMT made a surprise announcement last week to suspend its review of the central government’s budget for the next fiscal year giving the excuse that “the Executive Yuan has violated administrative
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) has triggered speculation over his stance on Saturday’s referendums after writing on social media that voters should exercise their independent judgement.
On the ballot are to be questions related to banning the importation of pork containing traces of the leanness-enhancing feed additive ractopamine, relocating a natural gas terminal project to protect algal reefs off Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音), restarting construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮) and holding referendums alongside elections.
Writing on Facebook on Monday evening, Hou, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), called on
By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNANew Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi （侯友宜） has triggered speculation over his stance on Saturday’s referendums after writing on social media that voters should exercise their independent judgement.