Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang's move is significant in several respects -- it is a substantive step taken by the moderate faction within the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to begin focusing on the Legislative Yuan election at the end of the year, despite the fact that the more radical faction continues to place their entire hope on the result of the presidential election being overturned -- and is the only way the KMT can have a future. This is because the move can only add brownie points for the KMT in the legislative elections, since poll after poll shows that the voters of Taiwan are desperately calling for the reform of the legislature.
On the other hand, the move itself is very good for Wang, for it highlights his stature both in the Legislative Yuan and the KMT, which could only help his succession to the leadership of his party. As indicated by DPP Legislator Sheng Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) and Independent Legislator Sisy Chen (陳文茜), if there's anyone in all of Taiwan who could accomplish the task of reform, it is Wang. This naturally has much to do with the fact that Wang maintains very good relationships across all political parties, as well as across the pan-green and pan-blue camps. In addition to being the vice chairman of the KMT, Wang is also the leader of the moderate nativized faction within the KMT, with strong and deep-rooted influence in southern Taiwan, where the KMT traditionally has little support. As a result, even KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) cannot afford to take him lightly. He also continues to have very good relationships with former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
It is important to point out that, ultimately, the result of the amendments in question will critically impact the debates and discussions within the KMT about the future direction of the party -- whether to align more toward the center and the nativized consciousness, or to swing to the other end of the spectrum in embracing Greater-China ideologies.
This is because of the two main issues in congressional reform -- the reduction of the number of legislative seats to 113 from 225 and the switch to the "single-seat, two ballot" voting system from the present "multi-seat, one ballot" system. With a much smaller number of seats to compete for and the election of only one legislative representative from each district, it will become much more difficult to get elected, because many more votes out of smaller vote "pools" will be required to do so.
Under the circumstances, the more moderate candidates -- who appeal to a good chunk of the middle section of voters -- will get elected. On the other hand, the more radical candidates on either end of the spectrum, who in the past only had to please a very small segment of the voters in his or her district in order to get elected, will naturally be shut out of the Legislative Yuan. In order to survive in this kind of political environment, the KMT will naturally have to move toward the center.
It is sincerely hoped that Wang accomplishes his goal -- for the good of both the country and the KMT.
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