Taipei Times: Secretary-general to the Executive Yuan, Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), said Tuesday night that you had originally reached an agreement with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on a solution to the dispute on Feb. 2. Chiou also expressed the Executive Yuan's astonishment toward the opposition lawmakers' responses to the proposed solution issued on Monday and Tuesday, which he said had overturned the consensus reached between you and Chen. Could you explain what has happened?
Wang Jin-pyng (王金平): How is this [the existence of a final agreement] possible? My discussion with President Chen was based on a conclusion reached by the opposition coalition on Feb. 2, which I sent to Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) at 3:30pm the same day. Premier Chang promised on the spot that he would make a preliminary response to the opposition's request that the Executive Yuan take the responsibility of drafting the energy law.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
It was on this basis that I went to the president's residence at 5pm. A preliminary four-point agreement concerning the goals of the mediation effort was hammered out during that meeting. On the one hand, Chang was to make an effort [to coordinate the differences within the DPP] based on this agreement. On the other hand, I was to make an effort [to coordinate among the opposition lawmakers].
When I contacted the opposition lawmakers again on Feb. 5, I presented this version of the agreement and noted their opinions toward it. They didn't have to accept it. Had they had to do so, the decision might as well have simply been made by the three of us [Chen, Chang and Wang]. When Chang took the version of the agreement back to the DPP, the DPP didn't accept it, either. That is why so many versions were proposed after that.
The second version from the opposition coalition only came out on Monday, and I sent it to Premier Chang the same day. The Executive Yuan sent its first version to the legislature only on Tuesday. As of Tuesday, the opposition coalition has had three versions.
TT: Chiou also said that there is now a "conspiracy theory" spreading within the DPP, which suggests that the opposition coalition was sabotaging the consensus deliberately to block the solution to the deadlock. What do you think about this?
Wang: There isn't any conspiracy. If there were, the opposition lawmakers, after passing their resolution on Jan. 31, wouldn't need to enter into any negotiation with the Executive Yuan at all.
TT: Some DPP politicians have speculated that you changed your original intention to help the Executive Yuan seek a solution to the deadlock with the opposition lawmakers after a meeting with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Wang: During the meeting with Lien, he only expressed his hope that the problem be settled as soon as possible and restoring the matter to its original state, which means having the construction work on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant resumed.
This is because the Executive Yuan hadn't obtained the legislature's approval before announcing a halt to the project.
During the process of negotiation, I didn't take any personal stand. But I did do a big favor [for the Executive Yuan] by proposing the wording, "respecting the constitutional system and peace between the legislative and executive branches" during the third round of meetings with the opposition coalition on Tuesday.
This replaced a stronger-worded phrase [which appeared in the opposition lawmakers' Monday version], demanding that the Executive Yuan accept the legislature's Jan. 31 resolution, namely that the plant's construction should be resumed immediately. Isn't this friendly enough? Isn't this favorable to the Executive Yuan?
The third version is a revision of the second one. The second version, which also mentions the goal of building a nuclear-free country and how the budget of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is to be dealt with in the future, remains effective.
Obviously, as to the part concerning the resumption of construction of the plant, the third version is more advantageous to the Executive Yuan. It will become a comprehensive proposal by blending the two versions together.
In addition, the door for negotiations will be reopened after the Executive Yuan announces a resumption of the construction work. Isn't this a solution to the major problem?
As long as the Executive Yuan is sincere about solving the problem and resuming construction, discussion on the energy law and other related matters will be easy. It isn't urgent to discuss them now.
TT: DPP legislative caucus convener Chou Po-lun (周伯倫) on Tuesday accused you of becoming the "leader of the opposition coalition," rather than carrying out your duty neutrally as the speaker. What is your response to this comment?
Wang: It is childish to engage in this clever-clever talk. He should try to understand others' positions, effort, goodwill and sincerity.
The constitutional interpretation by the Council of Grand Justices suggests that if the legislature's resolution is unacceptable to the Executive Yuan, the Executive Yuan should try to negotiate with the different caucuses in the legislature.
While opposition caucuses have refused to negotiate with the Executive Yuan, I have been requested [by President Chen] to do a favor [for the Executive Yuan]. Under the grand justices' interpretation, it is none of my business to take part in the negotiation. I'm acting as a mediator or, so to speak, a peacemaker.
He [Chou] hasn't tried to understand the developments and twists behind the matter, especially the fact that opposition parties aren't obliged to obey the orders of the ruling party.
TT: Do you think President Chen's Tuesday night proposal that the coordination effort should continue to seek a quick solution is helpful to solving the deadlock between the legislative and executive Branches? Chou today (Wednesday) also said that the DPP would show the highest level of goodwill by inviting you to host the coordination effort again. Would you accept the invitation?
Wang: I haven't seen his so-called goodwill as of today. Premier Chang so far hasn't requested that I continue the negotiations. If possible, the Executive Yuan should follow the grand justices' interpretation and try to negotiate directly with the different caucuses in the legislature. This will save me a lot of trouble. I won't take the initiative of calling a fresh round of negotiations.
TT: Did Chang give an apology for Chou's and Chiou's remarks over the past few days?
Wang: Premier Chang told me Tuesday night that their remarks didn't represent the position of the Executive Yuan. Chang said he was very grateful to me. President Chen is also fully aware of the situation.
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