TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's main opposition party is mobilizing a significant convoy of protesters from the country's central region to the capital this weekend. The Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Taichung City branch announced Wednesday (April 23) that at least 65 tour buses will transport demonstrators northward on Saturday to protest government investigations into allegedly fraudulent signatures on petitions seeking to recall legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
Party officials reported a steady stream of phone registrations, with the 65 confirmed buses likely to increase as the protest date approaches. According to event coordinators, the vehicles will collect participants from across all 29 administrative districts of Taichung, Taiwan's second-largest city. The demonstrators plan to converge at 3 p.m. Saturday on Ketagalan Boulevard (凱達格蘭大道), the ceremonial avenue leading to Taiwan's Presidential Office.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), a prominent KMT figure, publicly committed to participating in the demonstration earlier Wednesday. The mayor emphasized the protest's broader purpose of pressuring Taiwan's central government to focus on economic concerns and citizen welfare. "I am willing to step forward on April 26, and personally stand on the streets to remind our national leaders to resolve the national crisis, boost the economy, and care for the people," Lu stated.
The scale of the planned demonstration appears substantial, with KMT spokesperson Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) revealing that 50,000 people have already registered to attend, not including party officials and elected representatives. Lin Kuan-yu (林寬裕), who heads the party's Culture and Communications Committee, announced a Thursday morning press conference to outline logistics and safety protocols. Lin emphasized the KMT's dedication to peaceful protest while making clear the party would not condone any violent behavior. ★
