TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) passed controversial legislative reform bills on Tuesday. Over 70,000 people gathered outside the Legislative Yuan (parliament) to show their disagreement with the passage of the bills.
Protest signs read “Anti-Black Box. Save Democracy.” Demonstrators created a large white balloon with “Citizens safeguard democracy” written on it and sent it into the Legislative Yuan to express their demands.
A demonstrator stated that KMT and TPP legislators refused to carefully discuss the bills' articles from beginning to end, which she called outrageous. She further expressed that she hopes everyone can pay attention to what is happening in the Legislative Yuan and protect Taiwan's hard-won democracy.
Demonstrations against the legislative reform bills also occurred in Kaohsiung. A demonstrator, Ms. Li, indicated that everyone there is furious about the bills and wants to make Taiwan a better place.
Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai supports the movement, calling for KMT and TPP legislators to listen to the people's voices. The Bluebird Movement condemned the legislative reform bills, worrying that the overreach of power would threaten the democratic process.
