Han Kuo-yu sparks controversy with National Day speech criticism

Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu has drawn significant political criticism following his National Day speech, in which he departed from his prepared remarks to criticize the administration of President Lai Ching-te. Han characterized the current political climate as “fake democracy, real dictatorship,” expressing concerns over frequent recall movements and constitutional disputes between the executive and legislative branches.

During a campaign event in Keelung, Han addressed media inquiries regarding his speech by offering brief responses. He emphasized that while Taiwan's democracy is a hard-won achievement, he feels a sense of unease regarding recent political developments and the lack of compromise between opposing parties.

In response, Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung criticized Han’s rhetoric, suggesting that the Speaker is fueling partisan conflict rather than acting as a bridge for communication. Chuang argued that Han’s use of terms like “political hunting” and “dictatorship” undermines the role of the Speaker and turns national celebrations into political battlegrounds.