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EDITORIAL: KMT under close watch

The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) resounding election victory has given it more than a two-thirds legislative majority and the power to impeach the president. With the four seats of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, it in effect has a three-quarters majority and the power to amend the Constitution.

However, this landslide victory could be both a blessing and a curse for the KMT. The party now has no excuses and must take responsibility for the legislature's performance -- good or bad. After eight years in opposition, there is concern that the party will be tempted by the power and revert to its old ways as it deals with conflicts and challenges.

The party is facing its first test in the race for deputy legislative speaker. While Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is expected to continue in the role of legislative speaker, a battle is developing for the post of deputy speaker, with Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順), Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝), John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), Shyu Jong-shyoung (徐中雄) and Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) mentioned as possible candidates. Having a large number of candidates isn't bad, but it has raised concern about how open and clean the campaign would be. If personal attacks, vote buying or attempts by the party leadership to manipulate the elections were to reappear, the KMT's reputation would suffer a heavy blow.

The party also has to answer questions on where its priorities lie. Before the polls, KMT legislators had proposed 13 money-guzzling bills worth NT$4.7 trillion (US$145 billion) and clearly aimed at specific groups. They include bills on constructing private roads, pensions and subsidies for civil servants, teachers and military personnel and welfare measures for retired soldiers. Half of these bills have passed the second reading, despite opposition from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It remains to be seen whether the KMT cares more for the general public or only its supporters.

Furthermore, the KMT still has to address the issues of its stolen assets and official corruption. KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) has said the party will push for sunshine legislation and bills dealing with economic issues, living standards and combating corruption. These are all bills that the KMT had blocked in the past. If it really wanted to fight corruption, why wait until after the elections? Promoting these measures before the elections would have won it even greater support.

Because of its big legislative win, expectations are high that the KMT will go on to repeat its victory in the March 22 presidential poll. But along with this heady sense of victory, media reports say the KMT fears power-inebriated lawmakers are emerging and might spoil the party's chances. The KMT is reportedly planning to call a recess three days after the new legislature convenes on Feb. 22 and the election of the speaker and deputy speaker. This is to allow KMT lawmakers to return to their constituencies to campaign for the party's presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). If the KMT wins the presidential election, there would be no force to counterbalance its power.

The legislative elections are over. The outcome of the presidential campaign now depends on Ma and his DPP rival, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷). It's not yet clear whether the KMT will win thanks to a bandwagon effect, or if the DPP will make a comeback thanks to a pendulum effect. The competition has only just begun.
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