Don't sacrifice nation's interests: Chen

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said that tensions relating to the presidential election lawsuit should not be allowed to undermine the nation, its democracy and spirit of law and order.

Chen's remarks referred to the refusal by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to accept Thursday's ruling by the Taiwan High Court.

After months of hearings and deliberations on the KMT-People First Party alliance's suit contesting the re-election of Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), the court declared that Chen and Lu had been properly elected.

"An election is just a momentary thing, but a nation is forever," Chen said at the Presidential Office yesterday.

"We can not forfeit the nation over an election. We would rather lose an election than lose our country, let alone see our democratic system and respect for rule of law undermined," he said.