A drive by opposition parties to recall President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday continued to gain support from legislators while lawmakers voted to cancel a scheduled interpellation session with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄).
"We have collected 122 petition signatures [as of yesterday's legislative session] for a vote to recall the president, however, our goal is 150 signatures so as to show our strength," said KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
A vote of recall against the president, however, requires support from two thirds of the legislators (147) for passage before a popular referendum will be held. The earliest the motion will be filed, assuming that figure has been reached, is the next legislative session, which is on Friday.
"The timing in filing the motion is very important. We must take public opinion into account," Ting said, adding that the motion would definitely be filed.
In response to opposition parties' bid to recall the president, the ruling DPP legislative caucus yesterday attempted to rally the support of seven legislators in the opposition camp for its counter strategy.
"The DPP can count on the support of a third of the legislature as it has 68 seats itself and there are another seven lawmakers who are expected to lend their support and refuse to endorse the petition," DPP Legislator Lee Wen-chung (
At yesterday's legislative session, a motion which proposed to shelve the central government's 2001 budget and cancel tomorrow's additional legislative session was passed by a vote of 111 to 63.
Moreover, the legislature yesterday also agreed to rearrange the premier's question-and-answer session scheduled for Friday and instead change the agenda to review legislative bills. Therefore, the Law Governing Legislators' Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法) and amendments to the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law (總統、副總統選舉罷免法) will be put on Friday's agenda for revision and review so as to facilitate the recall vote against the president.
Sitting in the legislature yesterday morning, the premier seemed embarrassed during the National Affairs Forum (
"The president should step down himself for being capricious, deceitful and insincere," KMT Legislator Huang Ming-hui (
The ruling DPP, in response, appealed for political stability to be maintained.
Chang, after stepping out of the Legislative Yuan yesterday afternoon, expressed his sorrow for triggering such a political impasse and hoped the dispute would be settled through the Grand Justice's interpretation of the constitution.
"The Cabinet's announcement to halt the plant did not mean to embarrass KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Trying to mend the political standoff, secretary-general to the president Yu Shyi-kun yesterday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the speaker of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang met with former president Lee on Monday night and there was speculation that Chen would try to garner Lee's support by paying him a visit.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
SHOT IN THE ARM: The new system can be integrated with Avenger and Stinger missiles to bolster regional air defense capabilities, a defense ministry report said Domestically developed Land Sword II (陸射劍二) missiles were successfully launched and hit target drones during a live-fire exercise at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County yesterday. The missiles, developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), were originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday last week, after the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday long weekend, but were postponed to yesterday due to weather conditions. Local residents and military enthusiasts gathered outside the base to watch the missile tests, with the first one launching at 9:10am. The Land Sword II system, which is derived from the Sky Sword II (天劍二) series, was turned