KMT wants to convene legislature

The KMT yesterday suggested calling a special legislative session to address the fallout from President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) calls for legislation authorizing a referendum on Taiwan's political status.

The proposal, however, was met with reservation from other parties, including the PFP, who all argued that an extraordinary assembly would do the country disservice in regard to political stability.

Meanwhile, the DPP caucus was hesitant about drafting a referendum bill, saying they would have to consult the president before making their next move.

Though the government has said its China policy remains unchanged, the KMT legislative caucus maintained that the circumstances merited a special session.

"Chen's statement [on cross-strait ties] made the stock market nosedive," KMT legislative leader Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) said. "He must give the people a better explanation or we will make him do so before the legislature by calling a special session."

On Saturday, the president told an audience in Tokyo via video teleconference that separate countries exist on either side of the Taiwan Strait. He also lent his support for a law making a plebiscite on the nation's status possible.

Local share prices plunged 284 points yesterday afternoon amidst what analysts called panic sales triggered by investors' expectations of escalated tension between Taiwan and China.

The KMT pinned the fall squarely on Chen and demanded government officials come forward and shed more light on the matter to calm public anxiety.

"Minister of Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明), in particular, must tell the people if he will continue to observe the Constitution of the Republic of China," said Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), another KMT legislative leader.

The legislature, currently in summer recess, may convene an extraordinary session at the request of one-fourth of its 225 members. In practice, a special assembly has little chance of success unless all parties give their approval.

The TSU has made clear it would withhold support for such an event.

TSU legislative whip Chen Cheng-lung (程振隆) said he saw no need to hold a special session and that the president made no mistake when claiming that Taiwan is an independent sovereignty.

"A referendum bill cannot pass without a majority approval," he said. "The opposition parties can mobilize their members to block the legislation, if they want."

The TSU lawmaker said a special session would provide the opportunity for partisan feuding, which would only serve to undermine the political stability.

He said the KMT is to blame for the stock market's bleak performance, as the party has even outdone Beijing in attacking the DPP government over the weekend.

The PFP, while critical of the Chen administration, also voiced reservations about a special session.

PFP legislative leader Shen Chih-hwei (沈智慧) said derisively it is unnecessary for the legislature to steal the limelight from the government when the latter is busy containing the fallout of the president's inflammatory speech.

She warned Chen to guard his tongue and quit running the country like a headstrong gambler.

"At stake are the life and property of 23 million people in Taiwan," Shen said. "He must not treat the matter as a lottery."

The DPP, which controls the most seats in the legislature, said it would not boycott a special session if a majority of its colleagues supported the idea.