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TAIPEI: Lawmakers from Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party threw guts and exchanged blows with other lawmakers in parliament on Friday (Nov. 27) as they tried to prevent the prime minister from answering questions, in a bitter dispute over relaxation of the pork imports from the US
President Tsai Ing-wen announced in August that the government, starting on January 1, would allow imports of American pork containing ractopamine, an additive that improves leanness but is banned in the European Union and China, as well such as US beef older than 30 months. .
READ: Thousands join the annual Taiwan protest, anger focused on American pork
While it was welcomed in Washington and removed a roadblock to a long-sought US free trade agreement for Taiwan, the KMT has strongly opposed the decision, capitalizing on public concern over food safety after several high-profile scandals. in recent years.
Since the last session of parliament began in mid-September, the KMT has protested the pig’s decision by preventing Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang from delivering regular reports and answering questions by taking the podium where he speaks.
Fed up with the paralysis, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) decided they were going to make sure Su could speak on Friday, and formed a protective barrier around her as she pushed through, while KMT lawmakers blew whistles, held banners and sounded. air horns.
Taiwanese lawmakers toss pork intestines at each other during a fight in parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, on November 27, 2020 (Photo: REUTERS / Ann Wang).
As Su began to speak, KMT lawmakers threw buckets of pig guts at her and some exchanged blows, with a brief but cruel encounter between a group of KMT lawmakers and Chen Po-wei from the small Taiwan State Building Party.
Su soon pulled out, but then got back up to try to answer questions, his words drowned out by KMT lawmakers.
Pork intestines and other organs are seen on the ground after Taiwanese lawmakers dumped the parts during a fight in parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, on November 27, 2020 (Photo: REUTERS / Ann Wang).
The DPP condemned the protests, saying in a statement that throwing away the pork guts was a waste of food that “stunk” the parliament and was “disgusting”, calling for a return to rational debate.
The KMT says the decision on the pork was rushed and is a health threat, the charges the DPP denies.
Taiwan is a bustling democracy and fighting is not uncommon in parliament.
