Politicians and academics differed yesterday as to whether the formation of a coalition Cabinet should be included on the agenda of upcoming inter-party negotiations.
The talks, initiated by the KMT, are aimed at coming up with the legislation necessary to implement proposals made by the Economic Development Advisory Conference.
But there have also been calls to discuss "non-economic factors affecting the nation's economic development" at the inter-party meeting.
One issue concerns the nation's constitutional framework, especially the principles for the formation of a coalition Cabinet after the year-end legislative elections.
Another issue concerns cross-strait relations and the merits of the so-called 1992 consensus of "one China, with each side making its own interpretation."
In a seminar held by a KMT think tank yesterday, many of the participants were against discussing these controversial issues.
"The purpose of the inter-party negotiations is to settle disputes, but these issues are going to create more disputes," said Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), a PFP legislative candidate and professor of international affairs and strategic studies at the Tamkang University.
DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) said the advisory conference was successful exactly because the "zero-sum" game of unification and independence had been put aside.
Lin said it was unnecessary to raise the issue again when it was impossible to achieve a resolution.
The lawmaker also said it was premature and also impractical to discuss the formation of a coalition government now, as the results of the elections will be the primary factor determining its shape.
"All political leaders are talking about forming a coalition government, but there is no guarantee that a coalition government will definitely come into being," Lin said.
"In case all alliance attempts fail, a minority government will unfortunately have to continue," he said.
The KMT has repeatedly urged President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to respect the majority opinion of the legislature regarding the appointment of the premier. It says that the party controlling more than half of the legislature's seats -- or a majority alliance -- should have the right to form the Cabinet.
Though Chen has promised he would seek to form a coalition government after the elections regardless of the outcome, he seems to have no intention of surrendering the right to form a Cabinet.
Disagreeing with most of the other participants at yesterday's talks, Kao Lang (高朗), a professor of political science at National Taiwan University, said that it was crucial for all political parties to reach a consensus before the elections on the issue of a coalition government.
According to Kao, even if the president's appointment of the premier no longer requires the legislature's approval following the 1997 constitutional reform, it does not mean the president can go against the majority opinion of the legislature with regard to personnel appointments.
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