Print

Mail

wiki links

Pan-greens positive about president's message of reform

The legislative caucuses of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), were positive yesterday about the six reforms espoused by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in his Double Ten National Day speech.

Chen stressed in the message his administration's resolve to continue with reforms. He said the six reform priorities are financial reform, tax reform, reform to change the preferential interest rate of 18 percent for certain pensioners, media reform, investigation into properties inappropriately seized by political parties, and constitutional reform.

William Lai (賴清德), DPP caucus whip in the legislature, said that every aspect of Chen's message has "met the needs of the nation" and demonstrated that the DPP is the best defender of the nation's security and the top choice for carrying out reform.

On Chen's affirmation that he will have "zero tolerance" for any corruption, Lai said that this shows the president's concern for the matter and that he will address the recent spate of scandals, including the high-profile Kaohsiung mass rapid transit construction scandal.

Meanwhile, the TSU legislative caucus said yesterday that the six reforms outlined by Chen "are in the right direction and conform with social justice."

Ho Min-hao (何敏豪), the TSU caucus whip in the legislature, also said that reforms can only be carried out successfully if the related bills have been passed by the legislature.

Given the fact that the legislature is still controlled by the opposition "pan-blue alliance" of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP), Ho said he is pessimistic about pushing through the reforms.

Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), who also serves as the executive director of the party's Central Policy Committee, said yesterday that the president's declaration to undertake reforms sounded impressive but, after all, seems like a mere political slogan.

"The opposition has heard this kind of National Day speech every year for the past five years now," Tseng said.

"People will lose faith in him if President Chen pays only lip service and can't substantiate the slogans with action," he said.
This story has been viewed 1941 times.