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."
Rainfall is expected to become more widespread and persistent across central and southern Taiwan over the next few days, with the effects of the weather patterns becoming most prominent between last night and tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said that based on the latest forecast models of the combination of a low-pressure system and southwesterly winds, rainfall and flooding are expected to continue in central and southern Taiwan from today to Sunday. The CWA also warned of flash floods, thunder and lightning, and strong gusts in these areas, as well as landslides and fallen
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