Discussion needed on KMT referendum bills' legitimacy: CEC

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) Whether two referendum proposals submitted by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) align with legal definitions in the Referendum Act needs to be discussed from a broader perspective, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said Friday.

The issue needs "collective consideration and review from multiple perspectives" in society, the agency said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the Legislature passed a motion advancing the KMT's proposals to a second reading without committee review.

The proposed referendums are aimed at asking voters their views on capital punishment, which is legal in Taiwan though rarely enforced; and on "martial law," which evokes the 38-year period of authoritarian rule prior to Taiwan's democratization beginning in the late 1980s.

The referendum proposal framed as "opposing the abolition of the death penalty" would actually ask voters: "Do you agree that judges in a collegiate panel at all levels of courts do not need unanimous agreement to sentence a defendant to the death penalty?"

The referendum proposal "opposing martial law" would ask: "Do you agree the government should avoid war and prevent Taiwan from becoming a place of martial law, where youth die and homes are destroyed, as in Ukraine?"

The KMT's move to put the two issues to a public vote would be the first time a referendum is initiated by the Legislature rather than by political parties or civic groups.

Such proposals are limited to initiatives or referendums on major policies, according to the Referendum Act, while proposals submitted by political parties and civic groups can also include initiatives on legislative principles and referendums on laws.

On March 21, CEC Chairman Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) said the opposition party's proposed referendum questions "would have no effect even if passed," because asking the government not to implement a policy that does not currently exist is illogical.

The Act stipulates that referendum proposals must pertain to significant policy changes, either by introducing new policies or reversing existing ones, Lee said before attending a legislative session that day.

"The CEC hopes that the first referendum proposal submitted by the Legislature will proceed in full compliance with the law," Lee said, adding that the issue "requires collective consideration and review from multiple perspectives."

It was not clear if Lee had seen the actual questions proposed at the time, the question proposed on the death penalty is not consistent with its public framing.

On Friday, ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers occupied the podium at the Legislature in an attempt to block the confirmation of the meeting minutes from Tuesday.

Their actions proved to be in vain, however, because Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) did not show up to announce the start of the session, meaning that it did not take place.