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.
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