The Legislature erupted into chaos over a vote with legislators pushing, shoving, and even picking one another up.
Video script:
“You have one minute, voting begins now.”
These were the words of Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) just before the Legislature erupted into chaos over the reform bill jointly proposed by the Kuomintang (KMT) party and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
While some legislators were seen interacting warmly, others became agitated, some escalating to physical conflict.
KMT legislator Hsieh Long-jie (謝龍介) wore a look of fury while confronting DPP legislator Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘). The clash came to blows, even involving 73-year-old Chen Yeong-kang (陳永康), who fought for his life trying to hold the frontline.
DPP legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱), seen here in white, climbed his way up to the front and tried to pick up KMT legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) by her legs before both fell to the ground. No, this is not WWE fight commentary, it is truly just the scene of a legislative vote.
Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) also tried to take advantage of the chaos to slip in and climb up to the front. Other legislators could be heard yelling at him to stay away.
KMT legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) and DPP legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) kept their distance from the fighting. Lin instead opted to take her phone out to document the legislators not in their seats, pointing out that any who are absent cannot submit a vote.
The confrontation between parties broke out over a bill proposed by the KMT related to parliamentary reform. The proposal stipulated that President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) would be required to submit a report on the state of the nation address to the Legislature within two weeks of taking office. It would also compel the president to answer legislators’ questions about the address in a rapid-fire manner, and criminalize contempt of the Legislature, among other things.
Despite this battle to overthrow the Legislature, the KMT still retained the majority, and therefore had the advantage. Han announced that 51 voted in favor of the bill and 47 voted in opposition, officially passing the bill with a majority vote.