TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP occupied the Legislative Yuan rostrum on Friday in protest at KMT and TPP efforts to push through two controversial referendum proposals.

The proposals aim to lower the requirement for death penalty rulings, and oppose what the KMT argues amounts to President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) potentially declaring martial law by escalating cross-strait tensions. They were forwarded for a second reading by the legislature on Tuesday. The DPP accused the opposition of breaking legislative protocols during the session, per CNA.

The DPP has vowed to initiate a constitutional review of the Tuesday session, claiming it was null and void, per CNA. Central Election Commission Chair Li Chin-yung (李進勇) criticized the proposals on March 21, describing them as illogical, as they call for the government to not implement non-existent policies.

Aware the current session would confirm the minutes from Tuesday's meeting, the DPP took action to occupy the chamber rostrum. DPP Caucus Secretary-General Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) claimed the Tuesday session was illegal.

Wu noted on Wednesday that the Tuesday session, which was scheduled to end at 6 p.m., was abruptly extended without a vote at 7:20 p.m, per CNA. The DPP vacated the rostrum by 6:10 p.m., well before the session resumed.

KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) responded on Wednesday, saying that DPP Caucus Leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) was present when the opposition proposed extending the session and chose to leave early instead, per CNA. Ker later clarified that they left after receiving confirmation from Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) the session had already ended.

Ker proposed on Tuesday that the DPP should seek a constitutional review of the Tuesday session. He then noted that complaints had been forwarded to the Legislative Yuan’s Discipline Committee against every KMT and TPP legislator.

Li reiterated his belief that the proposed referendums were illogical. Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien (吳宗憲) criticized Li’s comments, arguing the Central Election Commission chair has no jurisdiction over legislative decisions and should refrain from interfering, per UDN.