Dec. 1 elections: Lien says KMT to `enforce Constitution'

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said the party will initiate a "national alliance to uphold the Constitution" if President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) refuses to "abide by the Constitution" in the formation of the next Cabinet.

"Everything will go smoothly and everyone will cooperate if the president forms the new government in accordance with the Constitution," Lien said.

"Otherwise, our party, as a member of the legislature, will be responsible for contacting other parties to not only work to save Taiwan's economy, but also Tai-wan's politics," Lien added.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪) said it is unnecessary for the KMT to wait until after the elections to form such an alliance since the KMT, as the largest party in the legislature, has the power and ability to do so now.

According to the Constitution, lawmakers can raise a no-confidence vote against the premier.

Instead of launching a no-confidence vote, the KMT led the formation of the opposition alliance and threatened to recall Chen in November last year following the DPP administration's decision to scrap the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant -- a move considered by the opposition to be unconstitutional.

According to Lien, abiding by the Constitution and respecting the majority in the legislature will be key to the stability of the political scene after the elections.

However, Lien said, what Chen is most concerned about now is his power, rather than the Constitution.

Chen's recent remarks about forming a "cross-party alliance for national stabilization" to prepare for the formation of the new Cabinet indicated that the president might form another minority government after the elections, Lien said.

Though the president would prefer to meet after the elections, Lien said he hopes Chen will change his mind and accept his proposal to meet before tomorrow's legislative polls.

"I want to ask him why it's so difficult for him to conform to the Constitution and what the problem is," Lien said.

The KMT chairman said he has prepared a string of other questions to challenge Chen.

These questions include whether the DPP will push for public referenda on Taiwan independence and the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project and whether Chen will renege on his campaign promise to reduce the workweek to 40 hours next year.

Lien urged the people to go to the polls tomorrow, saying a low turnout will be favorable for the DPP's plan to gain victory with the support of pro-independence supporters.

Meanwhile, KMT Secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) yesterday cited "reliable sources" as saying that DPP candidates in some localities are planning to incite riots if they are defeated in the elections.

There are also rumors that the DPP will have people posing as KMT members stage a demonstration in front of KMT headquarters as soon as the election results are out, Lin said.

According to Lin, the rally is intended to split the KMT by causing a scene similar to what occurred soon after the conclusion of the presidential race on March 18 last year, in which protesters demanded that then KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) step down for the KMT's defeat.