TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) sharply rebuked Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) Friday (April 25) for what it describes as partisan behavior that compromises his constitutional role. The criticism comes as Han prepares to attend a Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) opposition party rally on Ketagalan Boulevard (凱達格蘭大道), the ceremonial avenue in front of the Presidential Office, where he plans to address what he terms existential threats facing Taiwan's 23 million residents.
DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) stressed that the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, demands its presiding officer maintain strict political neutrality. The speaker should embody the impartial spirit of the legislature, according to Wu who noted that Han's planned rally appearance violates internal protocols designed to safeguard institutional independence. Wu highlighted the precedent set by three previous speakers — Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), and You Si-kun (遊錫堃) — who deliberately distanced themselves from party politics after assuming the role.
The DPP spokesperson escalated the criticism, accusing Han of systematically undermining legislative accountability and transparency since taking office. Wu claimed legitimate parliamentary procedures have deteriorated under Han's leadership. The ruling party representative also condemned Han's repeated use of the politically charged phrase "prosecuting KMT but not DPP" (辦藍不辦綠) — a reference to alleged selective prosecution — as an inappropriate attack on judicial independence that further demonstrates his supposed unfitness for the speaker's role. ★
