A dispute over road access near DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) headquarters has arisen in Taipei.
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Amid preparations for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for January 13, a dispute has erupted in Taipei over road access rights near the headquarters of DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德). TPP supporters rushed to secure access to Beiping East Road on the day of the election, a location traditionally flooded with DPP supporters during past elections.
However, the Taipei City Government rejected the application, leading some to say the move was politically motivated. TPP legislator-at-large nominee Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) says that the nature of activities should be evaluated when determining whether to grant permission for gatherings and parades. He says this is crucial for upholding the constitutional right to freedom of assembly and procession, a right that was oppressed during past authoritarian regimes.
In response, Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said that the decision was made in accordance with the law and was a rule set during the tenure of the former mayor, and TPP presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲). Chiang says the decision was not made on account of political considerations but rather to avoid conflicts and social disorder.
A similar situation occurred before the 2022 Taipei mayoral election when the DPP secured access to Beiping East Road, prompting the cancellation of the KMT application for access to the intersecting Shaoxing North Street due to safety considerations.
It is anticipated that the controversy surrounding road access rights will continue to smolder in the lead-up to election day.