Politics by a different name still the same

Before the election, James Soong's (宋楚瑜) campaign platform -- the establishment of a "non-party (超黨派)government" -- became the target of attacks by the KMT and DPP. Both criticized Soong's proposal for destroying party politics and the system of delegating responsibilities to political parties. Ironically, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) also seeks to organize a "government for the people (全民政府)" that transcends party-lines.

Of course, there are those who question Chen's idea of a "government for the people." If we truly want to rotate ruling parties, why organize "a government for the people," they ask. The list of questions goes on.

Actually, democracy cannot possibly run free of party politics. Soong's "non-party" had to turn into a real party. Without such a structure, the Soong camp would have no way to continue. Similarly, Chen's new government is simply a restructuring of political parties in disguise. The core of this new government is still party politics. Popularism does not stand a chance.

It is a widely known fact that the popular election of a president easily turns into a restructuring of political parties centered around their presidential candidates. South Korea serves as an example. So does Taiwan.

Four years ago, President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) won by a landslide, garnering 54 percent of the votes across the KMT and the DPP. Actually, Lee had set out to reorganize political parties . Unfortunately, the Leninist structure of the KMT and the ability of the vast KMT assets to hold people together made a reorganization futile under a boycott by mid-generation KMT members. This explains why President Lee had been unable to continue his reforms during the latter part of his term.

Chen's new government may be deemed as a political reorganization centered around him in order to increase popular support and make his administration run more smoothly. However, as traditional Confucian teaching focuses on loyalty and virtue and our education system has focused on loyalty to the party and patriotism to our country, many psychological barriers must first be overcome. Calling the new government a "government for the people" and treating power as a tool to serve the people makes the reorganization sound vastly more legitimate.

But frankly speaking, the "government for the people" is no different from the previous "city government team (市府團隊)" seen during Chen's tenure as Taipei mayor. In the end, they all turn into a virtual political party run by Chen. There is definitely not going to be any confusion over the delegation of responsibilities.

Chuang Pei-chang is the chief editorial writer of China Times Express.