Taiwan Lawmakers Face Indictment for Legislative Chamber Brawls

Taipei: Ten lawmakers from Taiwan's major political parties were indicted for causing bodily injury and other offenses following a series of brawls in the legislative chamber and a committee room between 2024 and 2025. According to Focus Taiwan, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office announced the charges against legislators from both the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The indictments followed an investigation into criminal complaints arising from physical confrontations during legislative sessions. The first notable altercation occurred on May 17, 2024. During a debate on revisions to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Powers, DPP legislator Chiu Chih-wei alleged that KMT lawmakers Liao Wei-hsiang, Chiu Cheng-chun, and Huang Chien-hao pushed him into the chamber's well. As Chiu attempted to prevent falling, KMT's Hsieh Lung-chieh allegedly dragged him headfirst to the ground, resulting in a concussion and other injuries. The prosecutors indicted these KMT lawmakers for their involvement in the incident, along with KMT's Huang Jen, who was implicated in a separate pushing incident leading to DPP's Kuo Kuo-wen sustaining a fractured tailbone. Chiu Cheng-chun faced additional charges for a second scuffle on the same day, where he reportedly injured another DPP lawmaker, Puma Shen. Further charges were filed against DPP's Lin Shu-fen for punching TPP's Mai Yu-chen during a subsequent debate on the same legislation. The indictment detailed other brawls, including a July 8, 2024, committee hearing clash where DPP's Lin Chu-yin and KMT's Wang Hung-wei were charged for mutual assault. In another incident on December 6, 2024, KMT's Chen Yu-chen was charged for physically removing DPP's Lin Yue-chin from the speaker's chair, causing her injury. Additionally, DPP's Ker Chien-ming faced charges of negligence after an object from his cane struck KMT's Hsu Chiao-hsin during a protest on March 25, 2025. Prosecutors noted that some defendants claimed their actions were protected under C onstitutional Court Interpretation No. 435, which grants lawmakers speech immunity. However, the prosecutors asserted that the physical actions were not protected under this provision. Under Taiwan's Criminal Code, the offenses carry potential penalties, including imprisonment or fines, highlighting the serious nature of these legislative brawls. Despite the indictments, such physical confrontations remain a notable aspect of Taiwan's legislative process.