Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) called for a no confidence vote against the Cabinet while participating in a pro-KMT rally as a private citizen Thursday night led by KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫).
The protest took place outside of the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, which is currently investigating a potential recall petition fraud case, and had taken in four KMT officials, including KMT Taipei Chapter Head Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹) for questioning earlier that day. Several high-profile lawmakers, including KMT Caucus Convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁), Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政), and several KMT legislators and council members attended the protest in addition to Chu and Chiang. Chu spoke several times to hundreds of supporters, where he accused President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of wanting to be a dictator, trying to erase the opposition party, inappropriate use of the judiciary, and even suggesting a presidential recall. Chu announced a larger protest on Ketagalan Boulevard for April 26.
It is worth noting that demonstrations at, or around prosecutors offices are illegal without prior approval as per the Assembly and Parade Act.
Chiang also accused the DPP of misusing the judiciary system, and called on the KMT and TPP parties to use their legislative majority to pass a vote of no-confidence. Were the motion to pass, the premier would have to offer his resignation within 10 days, though he could ask the president to dissolve the Legislature as per the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China.
Responding during a Legislative interview Friday morning, Chu said that the issue of whether or not to oust the Cabinet is a very serious one, which must be initiated in the right process, with the right people, and at the right time. As a Cabinet member, he offered no comment on the idea. Speaking on the behavior during Thursday night’s protest, he said that Taiwanese people have the freedom to express their opinions through protests, gatherings, and marches, so long as they do so in accordance with the law.
DPP Secretary-General Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) criticized the mayor for speaking “beyond the authority and responsibility of the capital mayor”. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), on the other hand, agreed with some demonstrators that President Lai should step down.