Unusual behaviors exhibited by Ker Chien-ming
In the political landscape of Taiwan, the actions of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming have been causing quite a stir. His unusual behaviour became apparent after the results of last year's presidential and legislative election were announced.
Ker, known for his close working relationship with President William Lai and Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an, has been a key figure in the DPP. His resoluteness gave the impression that he had already persuaded several KMT members, but recent events have cast a shadow over his political prowess.
During the 2014 Sunflower movement, Ker worked well with then-legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng, and the protesters' occupation of the main legislative chamber ended peacefully. However, negative rumours about Ker began to circulate when he entered politics, and these rumours have resurfaced in the past few months.
One of the most controversial incidents was Ker's proposal for a recall targeting 41 legislators, including all directly elected Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators and two independents. This move deepened hostilities and was met with criticism, particularly his dismissal of DPP Legislator Vivian Huang, calling her a "female version" of Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, with no basis.
Ker's proposal for a two-stage recall was unworkable, and it is unclear whether his certainty was based on foolish bravery or another calculation. It is also unclear whether his actions are deliberate attempts to cause greater chaos in the Legislative Yuan.
Another contentious issue arose when the Legislative Yuan voted on Lai's nominations for the Constitutional Court. Liu Ching-yi, a professor at National Taiwan University, was the only nominee approved of by the TPP but was rejected by the DPP. Ker allegedly cited Legislator Chang San-cheng as the reason for the rejection of Liu Ching-yi's nomination to the Constitutional Court in December of the previous year.
The government has attributed Ker's behaviour to the immense pressure he faces within the DPP. However, political commentator Paul Lin believes that Ker serves as a kind of "lubricant" for political parties, preventing internal friction without causing too many negative side effects.
In July, the DPP rejected two of the Constitutional Court nominees, and Ker's actions seem to contrast with those of President Lai's administration. Ker's intentional ambiguity has given the impression that he is representing the central leadership's position on the recall plan, but this remains unclear.
As the political landscape in Taiwan continues to evolve, the actions of Ker Chien-ming will undoubtedly remain a topic of discussion and analysis. His unusual behaviour has raised questions about his motives and the future direction of the DPP.
