President Chen Shui-bian (
"While I can't say that the legislature is to also give up its right to call for the resignation of the Cabinet, I can say that the president can relinquish the right to dissolve the legislature," Chen said aboard a chartered flight traveling to Panama from Honolulu.
Noting the recent passage of bills regarding legislative reform, the president said that now "is the time to step up to the next stage of constitutional reform."
Chen said that he had met with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Among the suggestions Chen made was that the presidential elections and legislative elections should always be held in the same year.
"Given the nation's electoral system and regulations, almost every year there is some kind of election being held in Taiwan," Chen said.
"[The frequency of elections] not only strains social resources, but also impedes the country's competitiveness," he said.
Chen suggested that changes be made to the electoral system through which elections could be held once every two years: one for central government posts such as president, vice president and legislator, and the other for local government posts such as mayor and city councilor.
Chen added that Wang had also agreed with him about extending the term of the legislators who are to be elected this December to the year 2008, a move which would then allow the next legislative elections to be held in the same year as the 2008 presidential elections.
The president also stated that he had met with Wang and Control Yuan President Frederick Chien (錢復) concerning the appointment of the next Control Yuan president.
Chien's tenure as the Control Yuan president is slated to expire early next year.
Chen reiterated his statement that the choice for the upcoming Control Yuan president would not be one who simultaneously holds a leadership post in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Chen noted that Wang had suggested either offering Chien the post for another term or considering presidential advisor Huang Kun-huei (黃崑輝) as one possible candidate.
Noting that Chien had previously stated that he would not accept any further appointments when he agreed to head Chen's proposed investigation committee on the March 19 shooting, Chen said the chances of Chien accepting the Control Yuan presidency appointment are slim.
"Some others have suggested to me the name of former presidential advisor, Wu Poh-hsiung [吳伯雄]," Chen said. Wu currently holds a post as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman.
Chen said that he would assemble a team for consultation on this matter upon returning to Taipei from the Central American trip.
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