Taiwan's first referendum bill was passed.
Cashing in on their numerical edge, opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) lawmakers vetoed most of the pan-green parties' ideas, denying the Cabinet the power to hold advisory referendums, and excluding the issues of sovereignty, territory, and a proposed new constitution from the referendum process.
The new law denies the government the right to hold advisory referendums to gauge public opinion.
It excluded referendums on altering the country's name, flag, anthem and territory.
The new law restricts citizens' referendum rights on the nation's major policies and on constitutional amendments.
A Referendum Supervisory Committee (公投審議委員會) would be formed to examine proposed topics for referendums and to make rules for implementing referendums after their approval.
The referendum committee would be comprised of 20 commissioners recommended by the various political parties, with seats apportioned according to the parties' representation in the legislature.
This Referendum Law would not only ban people from voting to show their wish to change the country's sovereignty, but would also kill the hope of legislative reforms accomplished through the votes of the people.
The decision to form a Referendum Supervisory Committee, and to provide for legislative control of the referendum process, turns lawmakers into the supreme rulers of the referendum process in this country.
Cartoon shows KMT and PFP holding a maimed baby, saying to the mother, "Congratulations! Mother Taiwan, Thanks to us, your baby is finally born."
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