First, Taiwan's outdated political parties are unable to save themselves from the hysterical extremism that they have fallen victim to. Whenever they run into a problem the just go back to the old formula of stirring up pan-green versus pan-blue, independence versus unification passions.
The prospect for self reform looks bleak. Taiwan needs a new political power that transcends partisan interests to save its democracy. A new party with new members and new perspectives could use next year's legislative elections to defeat the antiquated thinking of the current extremist parties.
Second, the new electoral system will halve the number of seats in the legislature. It will be a historic opportunity to give all political parties -- old and new, big and small -- a chance for fair competition.
If a new party puts forward outstanding young professionals capable of representing the voters in various areas, it may be capable of destroying the old clamorous and dysfunctional politicians who under the previous election system were supported by a minority of close-minded extremists.
Third, extremist political parties, legislators and media are the three commonly identified sources of chaos in Taiwanese society. Next year's legislative elections present a golden opportunity to do away with them.
If one says that the re-election of the legislature in 1991 was the first breakthrough in Taiwan's peaceful democratic revolution, then the overhaul of the extremist legislature in next year's election will be another peaceful breakthrough in saving Taiwan's democracy.
Opportunities like these don't come around very often. For all young people who care about Taiwan, the time has come for you to step up on the stage of history and bravely accept this mission to build a new future!
Ruan Ming is a former national policy adviser to the president.
Translated by Marc Langer
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