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Tang steps back into embrace of welcoming KMT

KMT Chairman Lien Chan, right, gives outgoing Premier Tang Fei a hug yesterday. Tang, a KMT member, received an enthusiastic welcome from the party when he visited the KMT's headquarters in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said yesterday that the KMT is as sorry as the Taiwan public about Tang Fei's (唐飛) resignation from the post of premier.

But Tang said that he had resigned because he no longer felt able to fulfill his ideals, all of which he believed were central to the national interest.

Lien complained that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had "ignored the spirit of the current Constitution and its semi-presidential system."

"The reason Tang resigned was because of a political struggle rather than poor health," said the KMT chairman at the party's weekly Central Standing Committee meeting.

Lien said that Tang had insisted on proceeding with construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, a stance which "was completely different" to that of the Presidential Office, and therefore, the outgoing premier's resignation represented "exemplary behavior."

"President Chen has not only been disrespectful toward the majority in the legislature, but has disregarded the premier's authority as mandated in the Republic of China Constitution," Lien added.

Lien lambasted the ruling DPP as being "all talk and little useful action" over the past four months that it has been in power, saying it had "constantly held the premier back and hindered him rather than helping his performance."

Meanwhile, Tang visited the KMT's central headquarters yesterday morning, receiving a warm welcome from Lien and all the members of the Central Standing Committee. When he arrived, the KMT chairman embraced Tang with a bear-bug.

Lien praised Tang for "shouldering the hardest task at the most difficult time for four and a half months, saying that his persistence in support of his views, such as proceeding with the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, was widely supported by the public."

Tang told Lien that he chose to resign because he felt that he could not implement his ideals, all of which, he said, he believes to be in the interests of the nation and the people.

"I am not a member of the ruling party [DPP], therefore, I can only consider the interests of the whole nation as I make policy," Tang told Lien.

"This time, however, I found that I could not carry on when I was no longer able to implement my ideas," Tang said.

Lien then invited Tang to be a senior adviser to the KMT. Lien also expressed the hope that the political turmoil would soon be over, saying that the KMT would positively help the nation to overcome this crisis which, he said, was due to the new government's lack of direction in policymaking.

"With cross-strait relations stalled, stock and currency markets slumping, economic development down and the government's steadfastness wavering, the KMT, as the major opposition party, cannot sit idly by and watch the nation's past glories and economic prosperity being trampled on," Lien told party members.

Meanwhile, James Soong (宋 楚瑜), chairman of the People First Party (PFP), said yesterday that in the interests of the general public, political parties have to make national stability their responsibility.

Soong also said that the PFP supports the president's idea of convening a round-table meeting to discuss major national issues.
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