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Blue camp to test newfound muscle

"With skillful maneuvering, the ruling camp still stands a good chance of realizing its initiatives."

Ker Chien-ming, DPP legislative leader

Though the KMT and PFP have managed to increase their number of seats in the legislature to a majority, it remains to be seen if they can succeed in steering the body's agenda and public policy.

The opposition alliance now controls 112 seats in the legislature after independent Sisy Chen (陳文茜) and the New Party's Wu Cherng-dean (吳成典) allied themselves with the PFP legislative caucus.

Their move gave the blue camp the upper hand in the lawmaking body, whose membership fell from 225 to 223 following the death of PFP Legislator Hsieh Chun-hui (謝鈞惠) and the resignation of DPP lawmaker Chou Po-lun (周伯倫). Chou, who was convicted of taking bribes during his stint as a Taipei City councilor in the late 1980s, and who recently began a six-year prison term.

DPP legislative leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said it is too early to gauge the impact of the latest realignment though he has braced himself for sharpened partisan rivalry as the next presidential polls draw nearer.

The KMT and the PFP will make the legislature an important platform upon which they can advance their joint campaign to unseat President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) next year, Ker predicted.

Since declaring their intent to field a joint presidential ticket, the two parties have been working on plans to integrate their legislative caucuses short of an outright merger. By so doing, they hope to better promote unity without threatening the political careers of their incumbent lawmakers.

"With skillful maneuvering, the ruling camp still stands a good chance of realizing its initiatives, especially those which enjoy broad popular support," Ker said. "The last two sessions are rife with successful instances."

Despite its numerical disadvantage, the DPP, with the help of the TSU and independent allies, managed to sustain a Cabinet veto on a legal amendment that would have allowed local governments to keep bigger shares of revenue.

Later, it narrowly confirmed nominees for Examination Yuan posts, thanks to several defections from the KMT caucus, whose size has shrunk to 66, from 70.

The green camp controls 101 seats, with the eight-member Non-partisan Alliance and other unaffiliated members saying they would work with either side depending on the contents of policy proposals.

"While eager to win the presidency, the opposition parties dare not willfully block bills to embarrass the administration," Ker said. "They know very well that such practices would only alienate voters in the run-up to the elections next March."

To enhance its reform image, the DPP has given top priority to downsizing the legislature, regulating political parties and their assets, and intensifying a crackdown on corrupt money politics. It also plans to continue efforts to boost the economy and reduce unemployment.

The series of reform plans put the PFP on the spot, as the three-year-old party has endeavored to cultivate a squeaky-clean reputation. Before entering its alliance with the KMT, it had stressed the need to regulate political parties and their illegally acquired assets.

The KMT remains wealthy, owning financial, media, construction, technology and other enterprises. During its long time in power, the party took over many public properties without due compensation.

It managed to put off the asset bill in the last session in exchange for its support for a Cabinet proposal to borrow money from state coffers.

The 13-member TSU has threatened to hold up all inter-party talks if the legislature fails to place the bill on its calendar.

Despite the hard-line posture, TSU legislative leader Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) expected a tough session ahead.

"The green camp will probably have difficulty even getting their bills adopted by the Procedure Committee where opposition lawmakers have a majority," she said.
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