Protests as Taiwan Parliament pushes contentious reforms

Opposition-backed proposals overly expand’ the power of lawmakers, says non-govt group

TAIPEI - Lawmakers in Taiwan jostled, unfurled banners and shouted at one another on May 21 in a dispute about efforts to widen parliamentary oversight pushed by the opposition, despite the anger of the ruling party which says there has been no consultation.

The squabble comes as Mr Lai Ching-te took office on May 20 as the new President, facing not only an angry China, which views him as a "separatist", but also a fractured Parliament after his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its majority.

Several hundred people gathered outside Parliament to protest against the reforms, accusing the opposition of working in concert with China and trying to kill democracy.