Taiwan’s new Congress: a stage for strategic party maneuvers

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The election of the Legislative Yuan's speaker and deputy speaker concluded on Feb. 1, but controversy has since erupted between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) over allegations of a so-called "phone gate" incident and conspiracies concerning a cabinet leader dispute.

Ahead of the election, there was significant noise about a Blue-White Cooperation between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the TPP, but the anticipated future dynamics within the Legislative Yuan are rife with potential changes due to each party's varying objectives.

The new Congress's landscape holds a "two-major-one-minor" format, with the TPP, while only holding eight seats, frequently stirring up key conversations. Despite these controversies, the TPP has cemented its position as a third force in this general election.

After the election, the TPP promptly proposed four substantial reforms to Congress, appealing to both the KMT and the DPP to respond. Their strategy, including revealing their candidate for the legislative speaker just before the deadline, has drawn considerable attention.

Both the DPP and the KMT are expressing cautious apprehension towards the TPP's growth and influence. The new congress is shaping to be a new battlefield for both collaboration and competition among the three parties, posing a situation worthy of close observation.