Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday vowed that there would be no “one-party autocracy” if the party wins the presidency and a legislative majority in the January elections.
Following a public opinion poll published yesterday by the Chinese-language China Times showing that 47 percent of respondents believe there should be a form of “check and balance” against the DPP’s power in the legislature, Tsai said voters should not be worried that the DPP would “take it all” and turn into a one-party rule.
“At the core of the question is the attitude of the governing party — whether it is willing to stand with the public, do things that meet people’s expectations, expand its connection with society and share information with the opposition and the legislature, so that we can discuss issues that we are all concerned about on a rational basis,” Tsai said during a campaign rally for DPP legislative candidates in Taoyuan.
Photo: Hsieh Wu-hsiung, Taipei Times
“The DPP will stand with the people as it always has, and work to meet people’s expectations,” she said.
Since being named the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate on Saturday last week, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has repeatedly told voters of the danger of allowing the DPP to win the presidency and dominate the legislature, as it could turn into a “one-party autocracy.”
He said it is one of the reasons why he decided to replace the party’s former presidential nominee Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who had been lagging behind in the polls.
People First Party presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) said that rather than “one-party autocracy,” he is more worried about “one-party incompetence.”
“The KMT holds both the presidency and the legislative majority now, but it has not accomplished much reform [as it promised],” Soong said at a campaign event in Taichung. “Are we happy with the reform in education? What about judicial reform? And pension reform? Do young entrepreneurs really have a future?”
He also took a swipe at the DPP, saying that it had been critical of farmers, fishermen’s and irrigation associations, comparing them to organized crime syndicates.
“Now, the DPP is trying to cooperate with these people,” Soong said.
As the DPP has stigmatized these grassroots organizations, they never see how the lives of farmers and fishermen can be improved, Soong said.
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