Pundits weigh merits of DPP's internal reforms

"It is not necessary for the DPP to adopt either model," Lin said. "But I fail to see the connection between the proposed reform and the spirit of internalization."

Fellow lawmaker Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) agrees in part.

He finds a larger Central Standing Committee problematic, as it seeks to increase participation and suppress opposition at the same time.

The reform plan suggests giving the president the right to name a number of delegates to the committee so he can ensure that he has a decisive say in its meetings.

The expanded committee is aimed at replacing the nine-member policy-making task force that has proved ineffectual.

Shen said in an earlier interview that the design would promise no cure to incongruity between the party and the government.

"Participants would soon lose interest in attending the meetings if their views are not taken seriously," he predicted.

To avoid coming across as a partisan politician, Chen has said he will not discuss important policy or personnel issues during the meetings of the Central Standing Committee.

Wang Yeh-li (王業立), a political scientist at Tunghai University, said the key to a smooth administration lay in cross-party talks as long as the DPP lacked majority control of the legislature.

"Internalized or not, the DPP does not have enough votes to pass its policy bills," Wang said. "Chen can tackle all existing problems without taking his party's helm."

Emile Sheng (盛治仁), who teaches political science at Soochow University, said he agrees with Wang.

He said the president can be more effective in winning the support of fellow DPP members by sharing his political resources with them.