Opposition inches closer to recall

Opposition lawmakers moved one step closer to a recall of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), passing needed legislation for the vote yesterday.

Aside from passing the Law Governing Legislators' Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法), however, opposition leaders refused to say when they would carry out the recall, only saying that it would come "at an appropriate time."

"We've completed complementary legislation for the recall of the president. The proposal [to recall the president] can be put to a vote after the updated law is promulgated by the president," said majority KMT caucus whip Her Jyh-huei (何智輝).

The president is required to promulgate a law within 10 days after it is passed by the legislature, and the law will take effect three days after it is promulgated.

According to the updated law, the legislature will accept a proposal to recall the president or vice president as long as it is signed by at least one-quarter of all legislators.

While the legislature will review the motion within 15 days after it is officially submitted, the party facing the recall can defend itself in written form seven days before the review starts. The motion needs to be passed by a two-thirds majority in the legislature before it is referred to the people for ratification.

The ROC Constitution stipulates that the proposal will be adopted if it gathers support from at least one-half of the valid ballots in a vote in which at least one-half of the electorate takes part.

Though the law was updated in accordance with changes resulting from the latest constitutional reform in April 2000, opposition legislators had speeded up the action to facilitate their plan to recall Chen.

The so-called "opposition alliance" consisting of KMT, People First Party and New Party legislators pushed for the recall of Chen soon after Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) announced the government's decision to scrap the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project on Oct. 27.

The alliance claimed that it has gathered 151 signatures endorsing the drive as of yesterday. Some of the supporting legislators, however, have gone abroad.

As there are currently 220 seats in the legislature, a recall of the president will pass as long as 147 legislators vote for it.

Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), convener of the New Party caucus in the legislature, said he believes the date to submit the recall motion will become clearer after chairmen of the three opposition parties meet on Saturday.

"We don't have a timetable now and the opposition parties will continue to negotiate on the matter," Lai said.

Some opposition legislators, however, have expressed their wish to delay the motion in light of voters' disapproval of the recall motion, especially after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) offered a public apology.

KMT legislator Hung Hsing-rong (洪性榮) yesterday suggested giving Chen a one-month grace period.

"As long as Chen stops being a dictator and shows respect for the legislature, we should give him a chance," Hung said.

On Sunday, Chen apologized to the nation and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on television in an effort to quell growing dissatisfaction with his administration.

The KMT became irate after the government announced its decision to stop construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant minutes after Chen had held a live televised meeting with Lien on Oct. 27. The KMT had called Chen "rude."