Premier Frank Hsieh (
The idea was proposed by Hsieh while delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of a political seminar.
Political infighting is hurting the country and Taiwan must develop a new governing mechanism based on inter-party cooperation to ensure political stability and sustainable national development, Hsieh said. He said he was getting frustrated with the Cabinet's policies constantly being boycotted by opposition pan-blue lawmakers.
PHOTO: CNA
"We need a stabilized situation in this country," the premier said.
Cabinet Secretary-General and Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) confirmed later that Hsieh has discussed the idea with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during a phone conversation and the idea has been endorsed by the president.
However, around 6pm, Cho sent a text message to reporters to say that it is the Cabinet's hope that the media would not focus on and continue to report on the idea, because it was merely political theory mentioned by the premier in the course of the political seminar.
"It is not practical in the real world yet, so it is unnecessary to discuss this matter any further," Cho's message read.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus leader William Lai (
Meanwhile, in response to DPP Taipei County commissioner candidate Luo Wen-jia (
These plans must be practical and should be of such a nature that they can be carried out immediately, he said.
At his campaign headquarters, Luo said yesterday morning that he did feel the need for the DPP to slow down and examine itself, and then re-initiate party plans.
"The DPP is now the ruling party. In the past, when the DPP was still an opposition party, we could make long-term plans that would be carried out over a decade or a 20-year period. But today, we have to make plans which fall in our `shooting range,'" Hsieh said when asked for comments on Luo's remarks.
"`Shooting range' means that these plans can be immediately carried out for the public," he said.
The premier said it is definitely necessary for the ruling party to do self-examining from time to time and fix problems whenever necessary. But, he does not really understand what "new DPP movement" is all about.
"When an end goal is carried out, it will not be an end goal anymore and a new end goal must be proposed to keep yourself moving forward," he said.
"The DPP has accomplished a lot of promises and end goals since it was established 19 years ago. Today, we need proposals or plans which can be carried out immediately for our supporters to see, because we are the ruling party and the public will ask us to do so. This is different from what we had been in the past," the premier said.
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