Taiwan Today

Trial live streaming of proceedings at the ROC Legislative Yuan started at 9 a.m. April 8, underscoring the commitment of Taiwan’s top lawmaking body to providing greater public access and promoting transparency. All of the first session’s lawmaker debates and standing committee deliberations will be broadcast on terrestrial stations Formosa TV, Gala Television and No. 1 TV, as well as 14 online media outlets such as Apple Daily, Central News Agency and United Daily News. The content can be viewed on TV sets, PCs, smartphones and tablets. Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan said April 7 that the trial is part of a package of pledged reforms he announced after his Feb. 1 swearing-in. “We plan to reshape the Legislature into one of the most ground-breaking and democratic parliamentary institutions in the world,” Su said, adding that enhanced transparency is an important part of this process and will helps strengthen the people’s trust. Legislators in Taiwan have long been criticized for their inefficiency and lawmaking track record. Democracy experts believe this stems from a lack of public scrutiny, and view live streaming as an effective way of helping improve the performance of the Legislative Yuan. Chen Yi-chieh, a People First Party lawmaker and caucus whip, shares Su’s stance on live streaming and believes it offers small parties such as the PFP a valuable opportunity to share their contributions with the electorate on a bigger stage. “It is important we have our voice heard by the people.” The 113-seat Legislature comprises 68 lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party, 35 from the KMT, five from the New Power Party, three from the PFP, one from the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union and one independent. (YCH-JSM) Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw