Cheng Wen-tsang enters debate on joint elections

Whether presidential and legislative elections should be held on the same day is an issue worthy of discussion, and relevant policies could be worked out in meetings of the Central Election Commission, Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said yesterday.

Reducing the number of major election days is a set policy of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as doing so could help reduce "social costs," Cheng said.

He added that Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has said recently that as there are differing opinions on the notion of holding the presidential and legislative elections simultaneously, extensive discussions among the various sectors of society are imperative before any final decision is made.

Cheng said that DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's proposal on Friday that the country holds presidential and legislative elections on the same day "as a means of strengthening social harmony" was meaningful.