TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), a centrist political party founded in 2019, announced Sunday (April 20) that it is weighing whether to back the Kuomintang's (KMT, 國民黨) upcoming protest against government investigations into alleged fraudulent signatures on petitions seeking to recall legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
The question of TPP support comes just days after the "Reject United Front, Protect Taiwan" (拒絕統戰，守護台灣) rally drew more than 10,000 participants to the streets of Taipei on Saturday. When questioned about potential TPP involvement in the KMT's April 26 demonstration, TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) indicated the matter would likely be addressed during Tuesday's scheduled summit between opposition party leaders.
KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has publicly denounced the investigation into petition signatures as politically motivated and called for supporters to assemble on Ketagalan Boulevard (凱達格蘭大道), the ceremonial avenue leading to the Presidential Office in Taipei. Speaking to reporters outside the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (北檢) on April 17, Chu confirmed the party had secured permits for the demonstration and issued a direct challenge to Taiwan's newly inaugurated president. "Let President Lai hear the people's demand for his recall," he declared.
In a press release issued Sunday, the KMT announced that amid what it characterized as national instability, the party will host the "Return Democracy to Taiwan: Opposition Leaders Summit" (把民主還給台灣：在野領袖峰會) on Tuesday. The meeting will bring together KMT Chairman Chu and TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) to address several pressing issues facing Taiwan, including international tariff challenges, proposed parliamentary and judicial reforms, and the ongoing controversy surrounding the recall petition investigation. ★
