Parties jockey to shape narrative ahead of KMT rally Saturday

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) Taiwan's main political parties took to the media Thursday to lay out their expectations and try to shape the narrative ahead of a rally by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) against President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) Saturday.

At a press conference Thursday morning, KMT spokesperson Crystal Yang (楊智伃) said the rally will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and will feature speeches by several regular citizens, with assistance from former National Taiwan University (NTU) President Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔).

The party has previously said that over 50,000 people signed up to attend the protest to "protect democracy" and oppose Lai, which will be held on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office building.

Top KMT figures, including Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) have all confirmed they will attend the rally, as will Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), chairman of the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party.

At the press briefing, KMT Taipei City Councilor Liu Tsai-wei (柳采葳) warned of the possibility that opponents of the KMT could try to sabotage the event, and urged attendees to only wave Republic of China (Taiwan) flags.

"Any other kinds of flags or posters will not be welcome. People should also not wear clothing with radical slogans," Liu said, explaining that this would make it easier to identify provocateurs in the crowd.

Liu appeared to be referring to KMT claims this week that supporters of the government were recruiting paid protesters to sabotage the rally by waving Chinese flags or pro-unification banners.

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Meanwhile, at a competing press briefing, Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) claimed the opposition rally was intended to strengthen KMT Chairman Eric Chu's (朱立倫) hand ahead of party leadership elections later this year.

News reports that the KMT is bussing people in, offering free lunchboxes and hiring young people to staff the rally showed that the party is "worried" about its poor standing with the public, and is trying everything to drum up publicity and support, Wu said.

In contrast to the "Protect Taiwan and Reject the CCP" rally held on Ketagalan Boulevard last Saturday, which was "rational, peaceful, and full of positive energy," the KMT rally will be "completely different," Wu said.

"We hope not to see any five-star (Chinese) flags or Nazi symbols, any extreme or inflammatory rhetoric," she said.

Wu was referring to an incident last week in which a man being investigated for signature fraud in a recall campaign against a DPP lawmaker showed up for questioning at the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office wearing a Nazi armband and giving a Nazi salute in public, drawing widespread condemnation.

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Ahead of the rally, the Taipei City Police Department said Thursday that is has assigned 400 police officers to maintain security at the event, with more on call if needed.

Taipei is expected to see scattered rain showers, with a chance of heavy rain or thunderstorms Saturday, according to the Central Weather Administration.

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