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Editorial: Parties must heed the people's will

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DDP) primary election for the year-end legislative elections is almost finished, with results for the "politician group" seeking legislator-at-large seats out already, while the nominations for district legislators and the "professional group" of legislators-at-large are well under way. Generally speaking, while party primaries and election nominations in general cannot be free of controversies, and the DPP primary is no exception, the DPP's mechanism to produce nominees remains by far the best-thought-out in comparison with those of other parties.

The DPP's current nomination system is the result of many changes and reforms. Nominees for district legislators are chosen through a combination of voting by party members and surveys on the general public's support for the primary participants. The party-members' vote is given 30 percent of the weight in the final primary result and the surveys account for 70 percent. This system is designed to ensure both that the nominees chosen represent the party's principles and values -- as shown by party members' support -- and hold a reasonable likelihood of getting elected, as the opinion-poll results indicate.

The opinion polls' role is especially noteworthy. By giving more weight to opinion polls in these primaries, the DPP is more likely to nominate candidates who are in alignment with the mainstream popular will, because these polls survey the public at large -- including those who may not support the DPP.

Realizing the importance of nominating "electable" individuals, the DPP not only increased the weighting of the opinion-poll results from 50 percent to 70 percent, but also this year began incorporating the opinion polls in selection of the "politician group" of candidates for legislator at large seats. In the past, these nominees were chosen strictly by party members' votes.

Nonetheless, even the DPP's nominations system cannot escape controversies and disputes. In the face of primary vote-buying allegations, even President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who is also the DPP's party chairman, called for further reforms. Regardless of what kinds of reforms are made, the DPP must adhere to the fundamental principles of democracy, transparency and fairness, as the way a political party chooses its candidates shows much about how it would run the government if it gains power.

The pan-blue lawmakers must have mixed feelings as they watch the DPP candidate selection process. For one, their parties are not even close to beginning the nomination process for the year-end elections. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is only posting announcements to begin registration tomorrow by those interested in running. In the past, nominees of both the KMT and the People First Party (PFP) were chosen behind closed doors, giving vast power to the party chairman. This has been a major reason why many KMT lawmakers who do not condone the conduct of their party chairman, Lien Chan (連戰), after his presidential election defeat have not dared to openly speak their minds: they fear they may not be renominated.

This year, both the KMT and the PFP are reportedly considering consulting or incorporating opinion-poll results in their nomination processes. Perhaps by doing so these parties will finally learn how to embrace the mainstream popular will.
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