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Pan-blues differ on approaches to constitution bill

Hsieh Kong-ping, the People First Party's Culture and Publicity Department deputy chief, yesterday discussed his reaction after he failed to be nominated as a party candidate for the upcoming legislative elections. PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

People First Party (PFP) Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) yesterday backed his party's legislative caucus in opposing discussion of the constitutional amendment bill on legislative reform during a mid-August special session. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus, meanwhile, voiced continued optimism that the bill will be discussed.

Chang said that he supported the PFP caucus' argument that an amendment bill should not be rushed through in an extra legislative session.

"Although there is great pressure from society, we cannot err again with the constitutional amendment. Even if we have to suffer the consequence of all PFP candidates losing the legislative election, we still cannot agree to rush through the constitutional amendment bill," Chang said.

"The PFP has to insist on its ideals, and if we do not have the courage to speak the truth, then the PFP doesn't need to exist anymore," he said.

Chang's statement was timely, as the previous two days had seen media speculation that the PFP's headquarters and legislators differed on the issue, with chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) supporting action on the bill in the session.

" Even if we have to suffer the consequence of all PFP candidates losing the legislative election, we still cannot agree to rush through the constitutional amendment bill."

Chang Chao-hsiung, PFP vice chairman

KMT caucus whip Huang Teh-fu (黃德福) voiced confidence when asked whether the constitutional amendment bill could be handled in the extra session.

"No problem!" Huang said.

"As an older brother, we have to tolerate the little brother's behavior sometimes," Huang said referring to the KMT and PFP caucuses' different stances on the issue.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) also said that the constitutional amendment bill had no bearing on the pan-blue alliance.

"The Constitution is an issue for the whole country, and it is not about whether the KMT and PFP agree with each other," Wang said.

While the amendment bill is again facing uncertainties, the Nuke-4 Referendum Initiative Association (核四公投促進會) is reportedly planning to visit Wang to discuss the proposed referendum on the nuclear plant.

The group also plans to conduct a series of sit-ins in front of the Legislative Yuan, starting from next Tuesday and lasting until the legislature agrees to discuss the bill in the extra session.
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