Trees Party Explained

Colorcode:
  1. 73BF00
Ideology:
Youth activism
Social democracy
Headquarters:Taipei, Taiwan
Country:Taiwan
Trees Party
Native Name:
Shù Dǎng (Mandarin)
Su Tóng (Hakka)
Leader1 Title:Chairperson (joint)
Leader1 Name:Sheng I-che
Chiu Hsin-hui
Position:Centre-left
International:Global Greens
Seats1 Title:Legislative Yuan
Seats2 Title:Municipal Mayoralties
Seats3 Title:City Mayoralties and County Magistracies
Seats4 Title:Local Councillors
Seats5 Title:Township Chiefs

The Trees Party was a minor political party in Taiwan. The core ideology of the party was environmentalism, and it was commonly identified as a "third force" party belonging to neither the Pan-Blue or Pan-Green Coalitions. The party was formed in 2014 as a splinter group of the Green Party Taiwan by brothers Pan Han-sheng and Pan Han-chiang.

History

In 2014 Pan Han-sheng, one of the "stars" of the Green Party Taiwan (GPT), left the fold to start a new party, the Trees Party with his brother, Pan Han-chiang, a development described as "damaging" to the GPT. Despite this, the Green Party Taiwan responded to the announcement of the formation of the Trees Party by "welcoming their strong stance on the protection of trees". While several articles in the English-language media refer to the party as the "Tree Party", the formal English name as stated in the constitution is the "Trees Party".

In April 2020 the Trees Party was given notification by the Ministry of Interior of its disbandment.[1]

Platform

There are six core policy positions articulated in the party constitution: environmental stewardship, social justice, upholding participatory democracy, pacifism, sustainable development, and respect for diversity. The constitution also commits the party to "defending trees and Mother Earth from human greed and ignorance".

The party sees its mission as:

Electoral performance

In the November 2014 9-in-1 elections the party won one seat in the Yilan County council. In the race for the Taipei City Council, the party polled 2.1% of the total votes cast, winning no seats. In the same set of elections, the party won one mayoral race, for Jiji Township in Nantou County. The mayor resigned from the party on 24 June 2015.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ministry drops delinquent political parties from list . 22 October 2020 . Taipei Times . 20 April 2020.
  2. Web site: 樹黨對於集集鎮長陳紀衡過度修剪老榕樹之聲明 - 樹黨.