Legislative session ends in acrimony

To address the radical elements, he urged the DPP to quit linking concession to loss, saying: "whichever party takes the initiative and reconciles will eventually prevail and whichever party is intent on fighting will be condemned by the people."

Though tired of the constant standoff, Tuan conceded he did not have the courage to stand up to party orders or his loyalty may be called into question.

"Before the time is ripe, I had better hold my tongue," he said.

Emil Sheng (盛治仁), who teaches political science in Soochow University, said he could not find a rationale behind those showdown votes other than the intent to save face.

"Did it really matter who headed the Examination Yuan in light of its limited importance?" he said. "It seems to me they fight for the sake of fighting."

Optimists, however, find solace in the fact that the elections for Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors will dominate the political limelight for the rest of the year, allowing the legislature opportunity to cool off in the fall session.

"Hopefully, the chaos in the past legislative session is the darkness before the dawn," Wang said, noting President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has renewed the call for reconciliation.