Taipei: Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday expedited two critical proposals to hold referendums concerning the abolition of the government's nuclear-free policy and the legalization of medical euthanasia. These referendums are slated to coincide with the nine-in-one local elections scheduled for November.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which together hold a majority in the Legislature, voted to bypass the usual committee review process for these proposals, allowing them to proceed directly to a second reading. The KMT is actively advocating for the repeal of the "Nuclear-Free Homeland" policy, embedded in the Basic Environment Act since 2002 and fully implemented in 2025 with the shutdown of the final operational reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant.
The proposed referendum on nuclear policy asks citizens if they agree that the government should revoke the "Nuclear-Free Homeland" policy to ensure public health, stable power supply, affordable electricity, enhanced national defense resilience, and support for the AI industry's growth. If approved by the Central Election Commission (CEC), this referendum will be Taiwan's fourth on nuclear energy, following past initiatives in 2018, 2021, and 2025.
The KMT argues that the proposal aligns with public expectations for a stable electricity supply, aiming to prevent an energy crisis in Taiwan. However, anti-nuclear groups criticize the KMT for persistently pushing referendums on the issue, accusing the party of undermining the national voting process. Since the cessation of operations at Taiwan's last nuclear power plant in May last year, power supplies have remained stable, and air quality has improved, according to a statement from the No Nukes Action Platform.
On the issue of euthanasia, the TPP initiated the referendum to address the legislative stagnation surrounding the topic. The proposal seeks public approval to legalize euthanasia under a regulated system, allowing individuals enduring intractable illnesses and severe pain to choose death of their own volition, thereby ensuring their autonomy and a dignified end.
TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang emphasized at a news conference that euthanasia involves deep questions of human dignity and fundamental values, making it a suitable subject for a public referendum. The upcoming elections on November 28 will include voting for city and county mayoral posts, local council seats, and other public offices.
Prior to these fast-tracked proposals, the KMT had already put forward two other referendum initiatives, including one advocating for caning as a punishment for "major crimes" and another opposing the abolition of the death penalty, challenging the Constitutional Court's 2024 ruling.
Meanwhile, the TPP had proposed two additional referendums: one advocating for absentee voting in presidential, legislative, and nationwide elections, and another mandating that all revenue from traffic fines be allocated for road safety improvements.
Under the Referendum Act, all proposals must be submitted to and verified by the CEC to ensure legal compliance before appearing on the ballot. Article 30 of the Act mandates that the government must implement the results of a successful referendum, with changes binding for two years.