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DPP caucus leader calls for shelving referendum on nuclear power plant

Before the end of this month, the Executive Yuan is expected to announce the results of its research into holding a non-binding referendum on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project during the year-end legislative elections.

While it is unclear what those results may be, the public and many DPP politicians have already expressed disapproval of the idea.

Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯), chief executive of the DPP's legislative caucus, said yesterday that party headquarters had recently surveyed the party's candidates for December's legislative election and the heads of local divisions. He said this survey -- and public opinion polls -- showed little support for the referendum.

The outcome of the polls was sent to the Executive Yuan for its reference, Tsai said.

The results were consistent with those of a recent survey which revealed that, out of 66 DPP lawmakers, only 18 supported the referendum.

Tsai, who opposes holding the referendum, said the DPP should put aside any debate on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant and focus on maintaining political stability.

While holding the referendum will inevitably trigger a fresh round of confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, the result of the referendum, without the support of a law, will be insufficient to change the existing nuclear policy, Tsai said.

He said giving up the idea of holding the non-binding referendum would not mean the DPP is abandoning its pursuit of building a nuclear-free country and effort to push for the enactment of a referendum law.

The Executive Yuan should continue to search for alternative energy to replace nuclear power, so that the three existing nuclear power plants could be decommissioned earlier, Tsai said.

Holding the non-binding referendum is widely considered a tactic to secure the support of traditional anti-nuclear DPP supporters. DPP politicians from Taipei County, where the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant is being built, tend to support holding the ballot, mainly because of pressure from their constituents.
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