Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday asked voters to support the DPP's call for amending the Constitution, saying the government can launch a new phrase of constitutional reform if the DPP becomes the largest party after year-end elections.
"Taiwan's current Constitution came into effect in 1947," said Lu, explaining that it was designed to encompass all of China, and has become too unwieldy for Taiwan's modern political reality. "It is one of the major reasons why the DPP government has been unable to do its best since it assumed power last May," she said
Lu yesterday campaigned for DPP legislative candidates Lai Chin-lin (賴勁麟), Chen Chao-lung (陳朝龍) and Wang Shu-hui (王淑慧), who are all former members of the National Assembly.
Lu stressed that voters can count on the three candidates to reform the Legislative Yuan because they all subscribe to the party's platform which advocates the abolishment of the National Assembly.
"To implement the ideal of a unicameral system," Lu said, "they joined the movement years ago and had given up their rights as assembly members. So, compared with other political parties, only the DPP candidates can really strive for the promise to downsize the Legislative Yuan and accomplish other constitutional reform."
At a DPP campaign rally last night in Chiayi County, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) again targeted two opposition leaders, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), saying that even though it has been over 500 days since the transfer of power, the two still refuse to accept the fact that they lost the presidential election.
"One of those two people who lost in the presidential election never undertook any self-examination but only put the blame on his predecessor Lee Teng-hui (
Chen also accused Soong of "fighting for Taiwan's people only with words while using actions when it comes to fighting for his own self-interest."
"He is still telling people that he did not lose the election," Chen said.
"It obviously shows that this person still refuses to recognize Chen Shui-bian as president."
Responding to the KMT's prediction of a landslide victory in the December elections, the DPP yesterday taunted its rival.
"The KMT said that it is now `far' ahead of other parties," DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said. "I think what the party meant was that it is ahead only in those `far away' areas such as Matzu Island."
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RELEASED: Ko emerged from a courthouse before about 700 supporters, describing his year in custody as a period of ‘suffering’ and vowed to ‘not surrender’ Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released on NT$70 million (US$2.29 million) bail yesterday, bringing an end to his year-long incommunicado detention as he awaits trial on corruption charges. Under the conditions set by the Taipei District Court on Friday, Ko must remain at a registered address, wear a GPS-enabled ankle monitor and is prohibited from leaving the country. He is also barred from contacting codefendants or witnesses. After Ko’s wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), posted bail, Ko was transported from the Taipei Detention Center to the Taipei District Court at 12:20pm, where he was fitted with the tracking
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