KMT calls for talks on premier's post

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) yesterday urged President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to hold discussions with the pan-blue camp over issues such as the new candidate for premier, in a move that echoes KMT Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) pre-election appeal to form the Cabinet should the pan-blues win the legislative elections.

"Though Chen is empowered by the Constitution to nominate the premier, Chen would have to bear accusations of destabilizing society should he ignore the public's opinion, as shown by the [Saturday's] election," Lin said.

Lien told the party's supporters during the election campaign that the KMT would form the Cabinet, led by KMT Vice Chairman and Vice Legislative Speaker Chiang Ping-kun (江丙坤) if voters gave them a majority in Saturday's elections.

The pan-blue camp has retained a majority of at least 114 seats in the 225-seat legislature.

According to Lin, the ruling authorities should respect the trend shown by public opinion and the new legislature, based on the principle of a five-branch government.

"After all, Chen has the final say on the new nominee for premier, though the pan-blues will recommend our own candidate. We hope Chen will not make the decision alone or engage in mudslinging," Lin said.

Lin did not name a specific candidate.

Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), executive director of the KMT's Central Policy Committee, yesterday insisted on pushing for Chiang's nomination as the new premier.

"Though the president enjoys the power to nominate the premier, Chen should take Chiang into account [for the position] for the sake of the nation's financial, economic and political stability."

Tseng further said that the KMT is willing to lend talent to the new governing team.

Based on the five-branch system stipulated by the Constitution, bills regarding government's budget and policies need the support of the pan-blue controlled legislature, Tseng said.

"Only if the Cabinet is formed by the legislative majority can related policies be pushed forward successfully," Tseng said.

Meanwhile, Yao Chiang-lin (姚江臨), a member of the KMT's Central Standing Committee, said that he will put forward a motion at a KMT meeting next Wednesday to ask Chen to accept Chiang as the new premier.

Yao said that if the pan-blues' appeal falls on deaf ears, the KMT will not exclude the possibility of promoting a motion of no-confidence in the premier at the Legislative Yuan or exerting pressure to achieve that goal.