The legislature opened on Monday with a ceremony praying for blessings after the Lunar New Year holidays and just before the start of the official sessions.
In attendance were Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Deputy speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), the Kuomintang's (KMT) andand Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) caucus conveners and the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) deputy caucus convener among other legislators.
In his speech, Han reminded everyone that the legislature is not only the highest institution for public opinion, but also added that it is like the locomotive of the country - it not only fills the engine with power but also guides the country towards a better future.
He continued to say that as the speaker, he is responsible for passing the legislation that can benefit the country and its people internally and promote foreign affairs externally in response to the changes in the international landscape and diplomatic needs.
He noted that all three parties in the legislature form less than half of the majority. But taken from a different perspective, this also means that diverse voices in Taiwanese society are all represented and therefore, no one party is dominant.
Han said that the first session will start on Tuesday. He called on all legislators to be respectful of one another. He hopes that all legislators will work together for the country, for the people and to be rational when supervising the passing of any bill or budget.