Assembly faces loss of face but nominations continue

Despite the fact that all of Taiwan's main political parties seem to have reached a basic consensus on marginalizing the National Assembly, they are continuing to press forward with the nomination process for possible elections on May 6.

The DPP is under intense pressure to ensure its members support the party's position, particularly after DPP delegates were seen as breaking their commitment to put an end to the assembly by voting in favor of the term extensions last year, said Chen Chin-te (陳金德), director-general of the DPP's caucus in the Assembly.

Only 180 votes are needed to pass an amendment marginalizing the Assembly, and the DPP is optimistic about getting the required votes, said Chen.

DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) will meet with DPP delegates on April 8 to reiterate the party's position favoring the marginalization of the Assembly.

Sources in the DPP also claim that if pressure from that meeting is not enough, the party is poised to use disciplinary measures to ensure the amendment's passage.

It is still unclear what the KMT's position is toward a constitutional amendment abolishing the Assembly.

At a meeting held yesterday to discuss the party's Assembly policy, most of the KMT assembly members in attendance announced they were in favor of its abolition. However, some delegates privately told reporters the KMT could still go either way.

The KMT's resolve to abolish the Assembly is weaker now than it was last year before the term extension was passed, said one KMT delegate.

The KMT yesterday drew up a list of candidates to fill the Aboriginal, overseas Chinese, and at-large delegates for the Assembly.

The DPP will finalize its list of candidates by April 9.

Party officials in the People First Party (PFP, 親民黨) said they hope to capture one third of the assembly's seats if elections are held.