Since the conclusion of the presidential election, dissatisfaction and the potential for confrontation have simmered. While some pan-blue supporters feel disillusioned and outraged at the result, the pan-greens feel they have been deprived of the joy to celebrate President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) re-election. And although Saturday's pan-blue demonstration ended peacefully, the ruling and opposition parties still need to work hard to reduce tensions.
The reason why the election resulted in such a serious split is that voters have been encouraged to vote according to their ethnic backgrounds. This has affected every part of society, with dichotomies such as "Taiwanese president versus foreign control," "Taiwanese versus Chinese," "pro-referendum versus anti-referendum" and "pro-democracy versus anti-democracy" proving most effective.
This campaign method is capable of generating antagonism with very little effort. And the distinction between these would-be poles has been devised to place barriers between friends and foes and conjure up maximum political momentum.
However, such a discourse -- "the enemy versus us" -- implies a dichotomy in which mutual trust has no place. That is why the collective anxiety and frustration of those who do not identify with the winner erupted following the election.
How can this crisis be resolved? The priority for the president is to smooth over the confrontation caused by this deliberate act of social cleavage. He must both observe his constitutional obligations and at the same time remind everyone of the thing that unites the country -- love for Taiwan. If the ruling and opposition parties refuse to recognize this foundation for future stability, further and more damaging confrontation could result.
Regardless of the result of the recount and the investigation into the shooting of Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (
Now that Chen has won a clear mandate by majority vote, the KMT, the PFP, and the New Party have sensed the need for greater unity among themselves. They have realized that, be it through cooperation or even a merger, unity is imperative. If these three parties merge into a sufficiently powerful force to balance the Chen administration, the nation's fractured political landscape will become simpler -- a scenario conducive to sustained social and political stability.
The dust from disputes over the election has yet to settle, and the caucuses of both ruling and opposition parties should cool down and continue to discuss legislative reform and constitutional amendments relating to the halving of seats in the legislature and the single-member district and two-vote system.
With these matters dealt with, candidates for December's legislative elections can focus more closely on the demands of most voters and strengthen the economy. The scars from this election will then be able to be interpreted as a symbol of national healing.
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