Key facts
- Taiwan's parliament approved three referendums.
- One referendum proposes caning sex criminals and fraudsters.
- Another referendum supports nuclear power.
- A third referendum aims to allocate traffic fines to road safety.
- The referendums are expected to be held on November 28, alongside local elections.
- A referendum requires at least 5 million 'yes' votes to pass.
Taiwan's parliament has approved the holding of three referendums, with proposals including the caning of sex criminals and fraudsters, support for nuclear power, and the allocation of traffic fines for road safety improvements. The opposition-controlled legislature passed the measures, which are likely to be held on November 28, coinciding with local elections for city mayors and county chiefs.
The largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), put forward the referendums on caning and nuclear power, the latter seeking to overturn the island's "nuclear-free homeland" policy. The smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which often aligns with the KMT, proposed the traffic fines referendum. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party opposed all three referendums.
For a referendum to pass in Taiwan, at least 25% of the approximately 20 million eligible voters must vote in favor, meaning at least 5 million "yes" votes are required, and these must outnumber "no" votes. Turnout is considered crucial, hence the opposition's desire to hold the referendums on the same day as the local elections. A previous standalone referendum to reopen Taiwan's last nuclear plant failed last August due to not meeting the legal threshold. If referendums pass, the Cabinet typically has three months to send relevant legislation to parliament.