No return to martial law: Chen

Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday called on the CEC and the 18 counties and cities to negotiate and resolve the controversy according to the law and the related regulations.

Hsieh's running mate, Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), said the opposition's boycott results from the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) fear that the DPP's referendum proposal seeking to reclaim its stolen assets would succeed.

Upset by Chen's remark about martial law, the KMT caucus lambasted the president yesterday, calling him a "mad man."

"If Chen is not crazy, why does he keep making crazy comments?" KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) told a press conference.

Justin Chou (周守訓), deputy secretary-general of the caucus, dared Chen to impose martial law.

Chou said the president's remark showed that he was practicing "authoritarianism" rather than democracy.

"He was trying to [help the DPP] win the elections by frightening swing voters and local government officials away from casting their ballots and by forcing deep-green `fundamentalists' to vote against their will. What kind of democracy is that?" Chou said.

When asked if the caucus would seek a constitutional interpretation on the voting procedure controversy, Kuo said the caucus had not considered this because "80 percent of the Grand Justices are close to the president."

"The 18 pan-blue governed cities and counties will still stick to their decision to adopt a two-step voting procedure," Kuo said. "After all, we can only guarantee a smooth election by adopting this system."

When approached for comment in Yunlin, KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said none of the four options the president was considering were feasible.

He urged everyone not to dance to the president's tune as this could arouse divisions in the nation.

Meanwhile, KMT Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), was unwilling to talk about the issue.

Nevertheless, he said martial law could not be imposed by the president unless it was confirmed by the legislature.

He was referring to Article 39 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the president has the authority to impose martial law, but this cannot take effect unless it is confirmed or approved by the legislature.

The article also gives the legislature authority to reach a resolution to request that the president lift martial law.

Meanwhile, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) told a press conference that the Taipei City Government was not intending to break the law. Hau said the city government was following the law as local governments had the authority to handle electoral affairs.

In response, Chang called on Hau to refrain from distorting the legal system.

"No matter how local governments conduct their electoral affairs, they can't go against the directive of the Central Election Commission," Chang said.

Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan