Scholars warn of trouble ahead

Chen Lung-chu, right, president and CEO of the Taiwan New Century Foundation, and Lee Hong-hsi, left, a professor at National Taiwan University, held a press conference yesterday to discuss constitutional issues that Taiwan may face following the year-end legislative elections. PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Prominent scholars yesterday called on political leaders to have a better understanding of the Constitution, citing a possible political mess after the year-end elections.

"Our future is actually full of fear and uncertainty," said Lee Hong-hsi (李鴻禧), a law professor at National Taiwan University. "We can almost be sure that no party will hold a majority after the election. Because of this, everybody will try to seize power, which will certainly have an impact on politics," Lee said.

A vague and complicated Constitution will only add to the political quagmire, said the law professor.

"However, our Constitution is not so clear and is full of potholes that need to be filled so that our government can continue functioning," Lee said.

Lee spoke on the occasion of a seminar held by the Taiwan New Century Foundation (台灣新世紀文教基金會), a local think tank. The foundation held the seminar in an effort to warn party leaders and officials of potential political difficulties created by possible election results whereby no party wins a majority in the legislature.

"Our Constitution is too complicated," added Lee. "It actually consists of a cabinet system and a political system under which the president is the chief executive.

"It also contains themes of both communism and capitalism."

Lee also said that Taiwan's Constitution is too vague in its definition of certain governmental duties.

Meanwhile, scholars also expressed their hope that the new legislature will be able to avoid some of the controversy that has plagued it in the past.

"It could be very ironic for a legislator with a mafia background to join any committee related to crime," said Lee. "Or I should say, people with a mafia background shouldn't be legislators at all."

The KMT has historically maintained a majority in Taiwan's legislature.

"If we do not do something, `co-habitation and coalition' will appear on Taiwan's political horizon after the election and it will definitely become an obstacle for [the development of] Taiwan's democracy," said Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志), the president and CEO of the Taiwan New Century Foundation.

"It is a democratic process of a country and we are very glad to see this phenomenon happen in Taiwan," said Chen. "It's a learning process. However, we hope to not see the confusion caused by ambitious politicians [taking advantage of] of our weak constitutional system."