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No majority, no me, Chang says

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday vowed to resign as legislator-at-large and end his run for the post of legislative speaker if the pan-green camp fails to win a legislative majority in December.

Chang, who is guaranteed a legislative seat in this election af-ter being listed No. 4 on the DPP's legislator-at-large list, made the pledge at a news conference held at DPP headquarters yesterday.

With President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) support, Chang is planning to take the speaker's chair from Legislator Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) in February.

Chang said he informed Chen of his position and that he obtained Chen's approval.

"The year-end legislative elections will be a key battle in completing the transfer of political power in Taiwan, as the pan-blue camp still controls the legislature and is blocking the road to reform," Chang said.

Chang said that US Department of Defense Deputy Undersecretary Richard Lawless' recent warning that Taiwan's arms procurement plan had to pass the legislature was a product of the pan-blue camp's irrational tactics of confrontation.

"We are worried it will cause a long-term crisis in Taiwan's national security," Chang said.

On Oct. 6, Lawless said in a TV interview that if the legislature failed to approve the NT$610.8 (US$18 billion) arms procurement budget, foreign friends would look upon Taiwan as a burden rather than a comrade.

The DPP was adopting a "united campaign" strategy to secure a majority in the legislature, Chang said. DPP candidates will work together to ensure that the maximum number of them are elected, he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said that People First Party Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) recent remarks that he would continue to support Wang as speaker "without spending a dime" was proof that previous legislative speakers held their seats by "financial ability" rather than "real competence."
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