President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen dared Hau withhold the ballot when he votes next year.
"I don't want to speak ill of [Hau] ... that he is ignorant, but how can he be so naive? Voting is everyone's right and cannot be denied," Chen said when approached by the media for comment.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) on Nov. 16 decided to use a one-step voting procedure. Under the one-step format, voters will receive two ballots for the legislative elections and two referendum ballots at the same time and then cast them into four different boxes. One of the two legislative ballots is cast for a candidate, while the other ballot indicates the voter's political party of choice.
Voters will also be asked to fill out the two referendum ballots to indicate whether or not they support a proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to force the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to return "stolen assets" to the national coffers and another proposal by the KMT on wiping out corruption.
However, 18 pan-blue local governments chiefs insist on following a two-step voting process, whereby voters first cast their legislative election ballots before receiving their referendum ballots. The pan-blues argue that the one-step format would create confusion and result in disputes at polling stations on election day.
The CEC has warned that electoral officials who do not adhere to the one-step voting format may face criminal prosecution, but the KMT leadership has dismissed the warning as a bluff, saying the election law stipulates that the conduct of electoral affairs in individual counties and cities falls under the jurisdiction of local governments.
On Friday, Hau said: "Anyone who fails to follow the two-step voting procedure, including the president and all other politicians, will not be given ballots. They will give up their right to vote."
Chen yesterday responded by saying: "I will comply with the [CEC's] instructions, and there is nothing that can prevent me from casting my ballot."
"I dare [Hau] to withhold my ballots," he said. "Feel free to withhold my ballots if [Hau] can really do so."
The CEC's decision must be strictly observed and the government will not make allowance for anyone who wanted to adopt the two-step system, he said.
"Does the Taipei City Government think it is independent?" Chen asked. "It is still part of the system of government."
"We cannot thave two different systems in the country," he said.
Chen said the KMT's refusal to adopt the one-step voting process stemmed from its wish to thwart the referendum and safeguard its unlawful party assets.
He was referring to the DPP-initiated referendum on forcing the KMT to return its stolen party assets and another referendum proposal seeking entry to the UN using the name Taiwan. The second proposal is likely to take place on March 22 in conjunction with the presidential election.
At a separate setting yesterday, DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
"Confrontation between the central and local governments will only put the people at a disadvantage" and would not contribute to the nation's development, Hsieh said.
Vice President Annette Lu (
"Would the KMT like to see local governments plotting rebellion against the central government if [KMT presidential candidate] Ma Ying-jeou (
In response, Hau said the city government would not grant special treatment to any individual or political party.
"I believe the president will follow Taipei's rules after he calms down. The city government won't extend special treatment to anyone or to any parties," Hau said.
He also dismissed Chen's accusation that the Taipei City Government is seeking independence.
"The city government does everything according to the law and regulation, and I call on the central government to refrain from imposing an emergency rule," he said.
Ma supported Hau's comments and condemned the central government for acting like "gangsters" by threatening local governments and civil servants.
Additional reporting by CNA
MORE VISITORS: The Tourism Administration said that it is seeing positive prospects in its efforts to expand the tourism market in North America and Europe Taiwan has been ranked as the cheapest place in the world to travel to this year, based on a list recommended by NerdWallet. The San Francisco-based personal finance company said that Taiwan topped the list of 16 nations it chose for budget travelers because US tourists do not need visas and travelers can easily have a good meal for less than US$10. A bus ride in Taipei costs just under US$0.50, while subway rides start at US$0.60, the firm said, adding that public transportation in Taiwan is easy to navigate. The firm also called Taiwan a “food lover’s paradise,” citing inexpensive breakfast stalls
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
CROSS-STRAIT: The vast majority of Taiwanese support maintaining the ‘status quo,’ while concern is rising about Beijing’s influence operations More than eight out of 10 Taiwanese reject Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework for cross-strait relations, according to a survey released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The MAC’s latest quarterly survey found that 84.4 percent of respondents opposed Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula for handling cross-strait relations — a figure consistent with past polling. Over the past three years, opposition to the framework has remained high, ranging from a low of 83.6 percent in April 2023 to a peak of 89.6 percent in April last year. In the most recent poll, 82.5 percent also rejected China’s
PLUGGING HOLES: The amendments would bring the legislation in line with systems found in other countries such as Japan and the US, Legislator Chen Kuan-ting said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) has proposed amending national security legislation amid a spate of espionage cases. Potential gaps in security vetting procedures for personnel with access to sensitive information prompted him to propose the amendments, which would introduce changes to Article 14 of the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法), Chen said yesterday. The proposal, which aims to enhance interagency vetting procedures and reduce the risk of classified information leaks, would establish a comprehensive security clearance system in Taiwan, he said. The amendment would require character and loyalty checks for civil servants and intelligence personnel prior to
RSS