The original version, backed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stipulated that township and village chiefs and councilors should step down once the new special municipality mayors are inaugurated. The chiefs and councilors were to be replaced by civil service appointees. The term of those local chiefs and councilors would in fact be extended for another year after their four-year term is up.
The new version, supported by nearly three fourths of KMT legislators — under direct orders from Ma as KMT chairman — allows 56 township chiefs to continue in office as appointed political officials for up to four more years. They cannot be dismissed by the incoming mayors.
Local politicians who were elected in December 2005 for four year terms, most of whom are affiliated with the KMT’s local roots, will hold their positions for up to nine years.
Again, the timing of this about-face was controversial and aimed at mobilizing KMT’s grass-roots vote.
Ma is pursuing a personal agenda at the expense of judicial independence and democracy. The question is: Should — and will — Taiwanese voters allow that?
Liu Shih-chung is a political commentator based in Taipei.
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