TPP letting voters down
The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and its chairman, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), have turned their backs on the party’s younger supporters, with its legislators acting as lackeys for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
Last year, TPP legislator-at-large Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) quit the New Power Party, which he founded, to join the TPP. The switch contradicted Huang’s original stand against the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and confused New Power Party and TPP supporters.
Luckily for them, the TPP secured eight seats in the legislature and plays a key role in decisionmaking, as neither the KMT nor the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won an outright majority.
However, what did these key players do?
When deciding on a legislative speaker, none of the TPP’s lawmakers voted for any of the KMT or DPP nominees, while at the same time saying they would assess candidates’ support for transparency and oversight reforms.
Consequently, the KMT’s nominee, Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), was elected speaker.
TPP legislators abstained from a vote on pension reform on the reconsideration of a KMT proposal, resulting in it proceeding to a review.
However, rolling back pension reform would increase the burden on younger generations, as under the bill retired public officials, teachers and military personnel would be eligible for a monthly pension stipend of NT$70,000.
As for the legislative reforms, Huang abstained from a vote when the KMT motioned to adjourn a meeting in which the DPP’s proposed reforms to the legislature were supposed to be reviewed.
In these cases, the TPP should have held the key to the passage or rejection of policies.
However, the party has done nothing but abstain from voting.
Pension reform concerns young Taiwanese, but the TPP, as a so-called representative of younger voters, has not dared speak out on it.
Ko has said that pension reform is not an issue with a yes or no answer, sidetracking the party’s young supporters by hiding the truth that he does not intend to stick up for their rights.
Young Taiwanese have been duped by Ko and Huang.
The two have been talking nonsense to solicit more support from younger voters. TPP legislators skipped voting, giving essential approval to every policy the KMT put forth.
The truth is that the “white” camp is not a neutral electoral force. Younger voters have probably woken up by now and feel regret.
Ko has said that the pan-blue and pan-green camps are rotten, but he himself has often gone back on his word and has spoken well of them just to win more votes.
Now, his legislators have become bootlickers for the blue camp and are forming an alliance with KMT Legislator and caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁).
Lin Han
Taipei
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