Taiwan: Citizens Should Decide
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A group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday visited the Central Election Commission (CEC), where they picked up a form to initiate an endorsement campaign aimed at calling for a public referendum on the nation's entry into the UN under the name "
CEC Chairman Chang Cheng-hsiung met the lawmakers, including Chai Trong-rong and Cheng Tsao-min.
Chai, a staunch supporter of
Holding a referendum would allow the public to have the final say on the issue and help the international community gain a better understanding of the people's strong desire to enter the UN, Chai said.
"Why can't
In a democracy, it is normal to hold referendums to allow people to have their say on issues of major national concern or public interest, he added.
The public referendum law requires that at least 85,000 people endorse Chai's campaign in the first phase before a CEC panel can give the go-ahead for a second-phase endorsement to bring about a referendum.