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Consensus elusive as protests drag on

"As long as constitutional amendment issues have nothing to do with pushing for `de jure Taiwan independence,' but are good for the country, I think they are acceptable to the public."

Wang Jin-pyng, legislative speaker

Speculation was rampant yesterday that leaders from across the political spectrum were seeking to defuse the current political deadlock with a compromise on constitutional amendments, but a possible deal was not in the offing, politicians said.

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus yesterday called directly on Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to call for cross-party negotiations in a bid to resolve the deadlock.

TSU caucus whip Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙) said that his caucus was inviting the leaders of industrial and civic groups to visit Wang and make an appeal for talks at 10am on Monday.

"We hope Speaker Wang will call for a cross-party meeting and ask caucuses to request that their party leaders stop all political activities," Liao said. "We would like to serve as a force of stability and see all political parties switch their focus to enhance social stability and improve the economy."

WANG RESPONDS

Wang refused to give a solid answer to the TSU's request.

"Business representatives can make their appeal heard through the media," He said. "I believe that both the government and the parties would be able to understand their feelings."

Meanwhile, rumors of a deal to do away with Taiwan's current semi-presidential system in favor of a parliamentary system also attracted the attention of political leaders.

For days, commentators have alleged that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was trying to engineer a compromise to end the campaign to oust the president.

The TSU caucus whip dismissed speculation that Lee was trying to get President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to relinquish his power to appoint the premier, in exchange for an end of the demonstrations to oust the president.

"I've never heard of such a thing," Liao said.

Liao said that it was true that his party would like Taiwan to adopt a parliamentary system, but the best case scenario would be to enact a new constitution, rather than amend the current Constitution.

Wang skirted the topic, saying that adopting a parliamentary system may be the majority opinion at present, but that he had no particular view about the timing of a constitutional amendment.

"As long as constitutional amendment issues have nothing to do with pushing for `de jure Taiwan Independence,' but are good for the country, I think they are acceptable to the public," Wang said.

DPP'S VIEW

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) said that her caucus did not have any particular stance on whether to adopt a parliamentary system or a presidential system, but said that in either case the governmental system must be amended as soon as possible.

Yeh took aim at Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), saying that, given his presidential aspirations, he would not support a parliamentary system, because he did not want to be powerless if he was elected in 2008.

MA WEIGHS IN

Ma, however, said he was not opposed to a parliamentary system, but that he disagreed with carrying out any constitutional amendments at present.

"We just amended the Constitution last year, and it would lack legitimacy to do it again this year. No matter which system [is chosen], we should wait until the legislative election next year and leave this issue for legislators to discuss," Ma said.

THE CABINET SPEAKS...

Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said that any decision to change the system of government was up to the public.

"Which system is better? I think that is a constitutional question," Cheng said.

"And this question can only be answered by the common agreement of the public, after careful discussion. In the meantime, we still have certain rules to follow here," Cheng added.

... SO DOES SOONG

People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) said that discussion about whether to adopt a parliamentary system was beside the point.

"What the crowd [of anti-Chen protesters] is targeting is the president himself, rather than the system. In this regard, my feeling is that [the protesters] wouldn't approve of the establishment of a parliamentary system in exchange for an end to the protests," Soong said.

"Adopting a parliamentary system might be a possible development in the wake of the campaign, but it won't end the campaign," he said.

Meanwhile, the TSU threatened more extreme action if the major political parties refused to negotiate an end to the protests.

If any political party thwarted a negotiated solution, Liao said that the leaders of the groups he had spoken to would mobilize their members to boycott the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections, as well as next year's legislative elections.

Liao said that since former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) had begun the anti-Chen demonstrations on Sept. 9, police forces had become exhausted, industries had suffered, and the country's divisions had deepened.

TSU Legislator Huang Chung-yung (黃宗源) called on the public to show appreciation for its hard-earned democratic achievements, and urged pro- and anti-Chen protesters to stop attending rallies.

TSU Secretary-General Lin Chih-chia (林志嘉) said that the TSU headquarters would fully cooperate with the TSU legislative caucus' initiative and that Wang was duty bound to make an effort to help enhance social stability.

distance themselves

Lin said that his party hoped all politicians would distance themselves from the pro-Chen, anti-Chen wrangling and settle the dispute in the legislature.

The Cabinet spokesman also took aim at the effects of the anti-Chen protests, saying that whether the president stays or leaves, he must do so in accordance with the Constitution.

"This is not an issue in which you can just do whatever you want," Cheng said.

The spokesman said that organizing a rally or protest to express differences in opinion was legal and that the government would respect people's views, but that demonstrations could not replace the Constitution and the rule of law.

OTHER OPTIONS?

Some commentators have speculated that Wang could replace Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) in exchange for the end to the anti-Chen protests. But DPP caucus whip Yeh said that Su should stay in his position, because he had not done anything wrong.

Meanwhile, Ma Ying-jeou said that it would be more feasible to oust the president through a recall motion, rather than through impeachment.

A proposal to initiate a recall motion requires the backing of only one-fourth of all sitting legislators, Ma said, while a proposal to launch an impeachment requires the backing of one-half of all sitting legislators.

In either case, the motion requires the approval of two-thirds of all legislators to move forward.

"As the largest opposition party, the KMT will present its plan to solve the political deadlock when the time is right," Ma added.

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