Televised sessions planned ahead of nuclear plant restart referendum

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) plans to hold five nationally televised forums in August ahead of a referendum on restarting the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, CEC Chairperson Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) said Thursday.

The events would take place on Aug. 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, and may be held either as debates or explanatory presentations, depending on the outcome of negotiations between opposing sides, Lee said.

The upcoming referendum, scheduled for Aug. 23, 2025, will ask voters: "Do you agree that the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns?"

The No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, Taiwan's last operational nuclear reactor, was shut down on May 17.

A proposal to hold a referendum on restarting power generation at the plant located in southern Taiwan's Pingtung County was submitted by the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) on April 18.

The referendum proposal passed the Legislature on May 20 in a 58-49 vote, backed by the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and the smaller opposition party, the TPP.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opposed the proposal, in line with its long-standing "nuclear-free homeland" policy.

In the upcoming televised sessions, the side supporting the motion would be represented by the Legislative Yuan, while the opposing side would be represented by either the Executive Yuan or a group that has registered an office under Article 20 of the Referendum Act, the CEC said.

Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) on Thursday convened a cross-party negotiation to finalize nominations for the sessions.

DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said the KMT and TPP could take charge of the selections, a move welcomed by KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁).

TPP deputy caucus whip Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) said one seat should go to the party-affiliated referendum office established under the Referendum Act, led by TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), while the remaining four seats would be decided in coordination with the KMT.

Han later announced that the KMT and TPP would each recommend two representatives, with the final list due by July 11.

The Legislative Yuan Conference Department will forward the finalized list to the CEC by July 16.