Here is a simple question: What is the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)?
The original TPP was established during the Japanese colonial era by Taiwanese democratic trailblazer Chang Wei-shui (蔣渭水), and the name carries heavy historic significance.
However, the chairman of the new version, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), has performed a reverse takeover, hijacking the historic party name and coming out with political slogans that are prettier than practical, including: “An inclusive society with national governance, in Taiwan’s name, based on the people,” “Reason, Pragmatism and Science,” “Popular will, professionalism and values” and “Executive power.”
Can Ko’s TPP’s live up to its name? Further observation is needed, but this is doubtful.
Ko once said: “I am deep green.” Yet, the TPP is utterly opposed to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
This is how political parties operate in a pluralistic democracy. However, a key question is, why has Ko relinquished party control by letting TPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) help Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) party convenor Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) use the legislative tyranny of the majority to infringe on Taiwanese’s rights and liberties? To date, Ko has remained silent on this matter.
“Taiwan urgently needs character education. Those with character need to be morally brave. They should speak up when they see something wrong. We need to consider how to create an environment that allows students to see unjust things, and dare to speak out. This is the education we need the most,” Ko said when he was head of National Taiwan University Hospital’s Department of Traumatology in 2013.
Eleven years later, Ko’s words are caricaturesque.
The sinking of the TPP’s political morals and ethics has been glossed over by young Ko supporters, yet not even they can avert their gaze when they see the chaotic outcome of the KMT-TPP legislative collusion.
Human nature is frail. The TPP painted itself as a third political force against the “absolute KMT-DPP polarization,” but the TPP fell into line as a KMT subordinate, a “little KMT.”
What is the political significance of young Ko supporters voting for the TPP then? What would the TPP be without them? This is a problem Ko needs to answer immediately.
Knight Chang is a political worker.
Translated by Tim Smith
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