When these factors are clear, we should consider complementary ways of choosing a president and a suitable mode of interaction between political parties and the government.
Irrespective of which type of party-government interaction is chosen, it will be difficult to make the current constitutional system run smoothly. During his terms in office, former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) tried almost every mode of party-government interaction, without success.
Ma has said he wants to respect and safeguard the Constitution, but even in the legislature, where his party holds a majority, he faces a dilemma and will be stuck trying to balance what he should do and what he is allowed to do.
Wang Yeh-lih a political science professor at Tunghai University.
Translated by Drew Cameron
RSS