TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's top law enforcement official has initiated legal proceedings against the leader of the island's main opposition party following an unauthorized demonstration in the capital. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) confirmed Monday (April 21) that Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has been summoned for questioning after allegedly violating the "Assembly and Parade Act" (集遊法) by organizing a protest without proper permits last week.
Speaking at a Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) committee hearing earlier in the day, Minister Liu revealed that authorities have formally referred Chu's case to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (北檢) for criminal investigation. The minister also addressed reporters' questions about KMT Taipei City Council members who allegedly dismantled police barricades during the protest, stating that Police Chief Li Hsi-ho (李西河) had provided a comprehensive account of the incidents and that law enforcement would proceed with appropriate legal measures.
The controversy emerges amid broader concerns about government integrity. The China Times (中時), a Taiwanese newspaper, has recently highlighted allegations of egisators misappropriating assistant allowances and potential espionage involving staff members associated with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨). President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who also serves as DPP chairman, has responded by prohibiting the appointment of relatives up to third degree as publicly funded assistants while stressing the need for heightened security protocols among legislative staff.
During the committee hearing, Minister Liu distanced herself from questions regarding legislative assistant compensation, explaining that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Yuan's own organizational framework. She noted that the Ministry of the Interior (內政部), Taiwan's equivalent of a home affairs department, had revised subsidy regulations last year to increase assistant allowances for councilors in special municipalities to NT$320,000 (approximately US$9,843) and NT$160,000 (approximately US$4,921) for those serving in non-special municipalities.
