Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Wellington Koo (顧立雄), Yu Mei-nu (尤美女), Chou Chun-mi (周春米), Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) and 29 other DPP and New Power Party (NPP) legislators submitted a draft procedural act for civil participation in constitutional reform.
Submitting the draft is just the first step. The legislature must pass it before the end of this year if there is to be enough time to initiate the first bottom-up constitutional reform project in connection with the local elections to be held in 2018. This requires the support of all DPP and NPP legislators.
The Civil Movement for Constitutional Reform, which helped draft the proposed act, said that the mobilization of all DPP legislators to support constitutional reform depends on the willingness of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
On May 2 last year, Tsai signed a pledge in favor of bottom-up comprehensive constitutional reform, saying “regardless of whether the DPP returns to power in the future, we will continue to push for constitutional reform.”
Nevertheless, since her inauguration in May 20, Tsai has not once mentioned constitutional reform, and it is therefore valuable to have the support of more than 30 lawmakers from the DPP and the NPP.
Tsai was lifted to power partly by the force of a new wave of democratic movements, starting with the Sunflower movement in March 2014. The mandate she was given was not to bring about a transfer of power or to maintain the “status quo,” nor was it merely to work hard to improve the economy, it was to bring about national reform.
Tsai must not credit former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) inferior domestic policies alone for her and the DPP’s electoral victory, like DPP Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) did during a visit to the US following the January elections.
Taiwan needs a new Constitution. It needs to rebuild the governmental organization and adjust the electoral system, and it needs a human rights Constitution that can serve as a backup for national policy implementation. It also needs to revamp the relationship between Aborigines and the state, and increase awareness of Taiwan as a constitutional society to consolidate social cohesion. These must be followed up with rebuilding public self-confidence. This is the demanding mandate that Tsai has been given.
Tsai must give up the belief that old and new can continue to coexist, that maintaining the “status quo” is a safe policy direction, and that it would be worth giving up national reforms.
The actions of Premier Lin Chuan’s (林全) Cabinet in the past month since it took office shows that every time the government leans on the old mindset and politics of the past, the erosion of public trust in the government moves a little bit faster. The public’s demand for new politics cannot be easily dismissed.
Civil participation in constitutional reform might be a bottom-up process, but it can only be initiated if the government is willing, although it probably would be more accurate to talk about a feeling of public responsibility and determination rather than willingness. This is true in South Africa, Canada, Ireland and Iceland.
Whether the draft procedural act for civil participation in constitutional reform passes before the end of this year and whether comprehensive constitutional reform can be initiated will be a test of the responsibility that Tsai feels that she should take for the promises she has made and her determination to follow through.
Hsu Wei-chun is convener of the Civil Movement for Constitutional Reform’s legal task force and an assistant professor of law at Chung Yuan Christian University.
Translated by Perry Svensson
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry