Effort to Retire ‘Mainland Deputies’ Sparks Uproar in Taiwan’s Parliament

Taiwan’s Parliament erupted in chaos on Friday as screaming legislators scuffled over a bill that would offer aging deputies from the ruling Nationalist Party hefty bonuses if they agree to retire.

The proposed bill would pay elderly Nationalist legislators $130,000 each to give up the seats they have held unchallenged since the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan in 1949. They were elected in China four decades ago.

Legislators from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party surged around the podium, shoved the speaker and tried to rip out microphones when it was announced the bill had passed the first stage of consideration without an open debate.

The bill has been strongly supported by younger Nationalist Party leaders, who are eager to get rid of their elderly colleagues and modernize the party image.

Opponents say the bill is too expensive and are demanding an immediate full election. It now goes to a committee for further consideration.

Nearly two-thirds of the seats in the parliament are held by the so-called “mainland deputies,” although many of them are now too weak to regularly attend legislative sessions.