President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday offered to deliver a special report to the Legislative Yuan to seek support for his administration's arms-procurement package, which has been blocked for months by the pan-blue opposition.
"Investing in national defense is investing in long-term peace," Chen said in a speech at National Taiwan University. "I'd like to explain more about the arms-procurement bill ... to the Legislative Yuan and, if possible, to Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九)."
"We don't intend to enter an arms race with China," Chen said. "However, improving our weapons and facilities should be an ongoing process. The three bills regarding arms procurement were drafted before I took office in 2000. Political parties have to be persistent."
A presidential address to the legislature would be unprecedented. The president is the head of the state who appoints a premier, who ordinarily delivers government policies to the legislature.
In response, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Moreover, Wang said, it would not be appropriate for the president to give a report on a single issue, such as the arms procurement plan, since the president does not answer to the lawmaking body.
The legislature could, however, invite Chen to deliver a broader "state of the nation" address if it wanted to, Wang said.
But even if all lawmakers agreed to extend such an invitation, Wang said that the president would have to deliver the report when the legislature meets in the first half of the year, in accordance with the Constitution.
Article Four of the Additional Articles of the Constitution states: "When the Legislative Yuan convenes each year, it may hear a report on the state of the nation by the president."
Wang, however, said that he will respect the joint decision made by all caucuses if they agree to hear the president's briefing during the second half of the year.
Wang promised to call a cross-party meeting to discuss the matter if any caucus files a request.
If approved, Wang said that the legislature would arrange for the president to deliver the report at a plenary legislative session, rather than a national affairs forum, to show the utmost respect for the head of state.
The forum is held to let lawmakers voice their opinions on issues and air their grievances.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said his caucus will file a request today to invite the president to brief the legislature, and that he hopes that opposition parties will support their proposition.
Responding to the KMT caucus' request that the president take questions from lawmakers in addition to delivering the report, Lai said such a request was unconstitutional.
"If they wish to question the president on the legislative floor, I'm calling on the KMT to amend the Constitution and change the government system to the presidential system," he said.
A previous attempt by Chen to address the legislature broke down over Chen's refusal to take questions from lawmakers after his speech.
People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) said it is not necessary for the president to brief the legislature on the arms-procurement plan because he believes that the president's professional knowledge of the issue is not superior to that of Minister of National Defense Lee Jye (李傑).
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