A Rubber Chicken at the Center of a Contentious Recall Bill Debate

Fighting between the DPP and KMT has interrupted a second committee discussion on the controversial reforms proposed to the recall act.

Transcript

00:00There's been more drama at the legislature this time over proposed changes to Taiwan's election and recall act

00:06The main opposition Kuomintang says that the current recall rules are problematic and make it too easy to remove elected officials

00:14The KMT mayor Ji Long looks likely to face a recall vote soon

00:17And now the party wants to strengthen rules over gathering signatures for a recall

00:22The KMT says that the recall rules are problematic and make it too easy to remove elected officials

00:27Civic groups protesting outside the legislature say that the changes may not improve legitimacy of recall petitions

00:33And may put signatories at risk of leaking their personal information

00:37In fact, if you want to prevent fake KMT, there are other more scientific ways

00:44Please don't use this old-fashioned way

00:48The KMT says ID checks will help eliminate voter fraud

00:51But there were more clashes today in the legislature between the KMT and ruling Democratic Progressive Party

00:57As the bills were up for committee discussion for the second time

01:00There were farcical scenes as lawmakers pushed and shoved one another

01:04With a rubber chicken even brought out at one point to taunt a KMT legislator

01:09As a result, there have been no progress in debating the proposed changes so far

01:13It comes after the KMT pushed through another set of controversial reforms earlier this legislative session

01:19Passing amendments that give the legislature more oversight over the executive branch

01:24It seems now that the recall act will be the next battleground

01:27And just as with the legislative reforms, the KMT will need to secure the vote of another opposition party

01:33The Taiwan People's Party

01:34If they can do that, they'll have the numbers to pass this legislation

01:38If they can stop fighting long enough to do so

01:40Alex Chen and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus