There was another reason why the Local Government Act was passed — King was able to communicate with the legislature and he decided that in future, Ma would take over part of the communications with legislators.
In the past, national policy was formed through interaction between the Cabinet and the legislature, but now Ma and the KMT secretary-general, who is external to the system, interact directly with the legislature, diminishing the Cabinet’s role. The secretary-general can also give in to the legislature, but he must be tough in his interactions with the Cabinet lest policymaking be reduced to chaos. This has elevated the KMT secretary-general post to an unprecedented status, surpassing the level it reached during the Chiang era.
Ma, King and Wang have together created an unprecedented system for national power. It is not a presidential system, because the president does not have the right to veto major policy decisions by the legislature. It is not a semi-presidential system, because the Cabinet no longer plays a part in policymaking. It is not a Cabinet system, because the Cabinet must listen to the legislature through the party secretary-general. It is not a democratic system, because the constitutional institutions must listen to the decisions made by the secretary-general, who is external to the constitutional system. It is not a totalitarian system, because party and government cannot order the legislature around.
The KMT is not an externally created party, because it is not controlled by labor unions or other non-governmental organizations, nor is it an internally created party because the secretary-general, who now holds the most power. is a position external to the system. Nor does the party lead the government, assist the government or remain separate from the government.
Such a system can only be described as an indefinable monster.
In this indescribable system, the legislature is very powerful. It may correctly reflect public opinion, but it is even better at being populist, and then passing responsibility to the impotent president and Cabinet. Being led by the nose by its populism, it is very unlikely that the government will manage to lay down any long-term plans or come up with reasonable foreign policy.
A constitutional crisis is around the corner, but regrettably, the government rejoices in the knowledge that the KMT now is more like a “real party,” while the public waits in vain for systemic improvements and ideas for the future.
Lin Cho-shui is a former Democratic Progressive Party legislator.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG AND PERRY SVENSSON
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