Chen called hypocritical

Opposition parties yesterday criticized Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for doubling up as DPP chairman, saying the president has eaten his own words.

"Two years ago during the presidential election, President Chen promised he wouldn't meddle with his party's affairs during his presidency," PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) said. "Yet now not only has he meddled with the party's affairs, he's gone one step further to become the party's chairman."

At the DPP's 10th National Congress yesterday, Chen formally assumed the DPP chairmanship and announced that the central government has entered a new era as the ruling party synchronizes its operations with that of the central government.

Slamming Chen for breaking his own promise, Soong explained why he didn't attend the opening ceremony of the DPP congress and sent a representative instead.

"I didn't go because I didn't want to give the impression that I am endorsing him for what he is doing," Soong said at the closing ceremony of the PFP's Youth Camp in Kaohsiung County.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) didn't show up at the event either and also sent representatives.

Huang Chu-wen (黃主文), chairman of the TSU, personally attended the opening ceremony.

Citing the Cabinet's plan to have English as the nation's second semi-official language, Soong further criticized Chen for setting unattainable policies.

Soong was referring to Premier Yu Shyi-kun's announcement earlier this May that in a bid to increase Taiwan's competitiveness, the Executive Yuan had mapped out a preliminary plan to make English the nation's second semi-official language over the next six years.

"Chen likes to make promises he can't keep," Soong said. "Personally, I don't think that in six years' time, even Chen or Yu Shyi-kun themselves will know how to speak English perfectly."

In addition, Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄), PFP legislative caucus leader, said Chen's assumption of the DPP party chairmanship lacked novelty and was a scheme to increase his chances in the next presidential election.

Taipei Major Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said Chen had eaten his own words.

"Chen's taking the party chairmanship is on its face evidence that Chen didn't keep his presidential promise," Ma said. "But then again, this isn't the first time that Chen hasn't kept his word."