More protests are planned outside of Taiwan's legislature this Friday after a huge gathering earlier in the week. Protesters oppose reforms proposed by the opposition-controlled legislature that would give them far greater powers of oversight. Supporters of the reforms say they’re necessary to keep the government accountable.
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00:00 "Fight for democracy in Taiwan!"
00:04 cries to save Taiwan's democracy,
00:06 as tens of thousands took to the streets of the capital on Tuesday.
00:11 Now, the calm between two storms.
00:13 The area around Taiwan's legislature seemingly peaceful,
00:17 but this Friday they'll be thronged with protesters once again,
00:20 when a potentially even larger crowd is expected to gather,
00:24 to express their anger at a series of legislative reforms
00:28 proposed by the two main opposition parties.
00:31 Mostly supporters of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP,
00:50 protesters say those reforms, put forward by the Kuomintang, or KMT,
00:54 and the smaller Taiwan People's Party, or TPP,
00:57 who together hold a majority in Taiwan's legislature,
01:00 will give lawmakers more power,
01:02 so that some fear will undermine Taiwan's democracy.
01:24 The bill could also give the legislature the power
01:27 to summon the president for questioning by lawmakers.
01:30 But supporters of the reforms say they're necessary
01:34 to keep the government accountable.
01:35 We hope the government can fully accept the people's supervision,
01:40 accept the public opinion, because the public opinion represents the people.
01:44 So, don't use the law that we want to find a way to avoid corruption,
01:49 our law of the right to exercise power,
01:51 to put us directly on the "selling country" hat.
01:55 Protesters say that the opposition are trying to sneak these reforms through
01:59 without due process,
02:01 that the bills didn't get proper readings,
02:03 and that Speaker Hang Guo-yu has broken protocol
02:06 by having legislators vote through a show of hands,
02:09 rather than the usual electronic voting.
02:11 But supporters of the bill argue the opposition has had more than enough time
02:16 to voice their concerns about the reforms,
02:19 and that the way the DPP is blocking them is undemocratic.
02:23 The reforms and protests pose an immediate challenge
02:27 to President Lai Ching-de, just days into his tenure.
02:31 But without a legislative majority,
02:33 Lai's party is limited in how much it can do
02:36 to stop these reforms and any other bills that may come
02:39 over the next four years.
02:40 So, as Taiwan's legislature prepares to reconvene on Friday
02:44 and protesters say they'll return to keep their voices heard,
02:48 this now peaceful square could become the stage for even more unrest.
02:52 Alex Chen, Ryan Wu, Sally Jensen and Rhys Ayres in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
02:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]