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Yu endorses simultaneous elections

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential hopeful Yu Shyi-kun, third left, is joined by supporters in promoting a signature drive targeting the return of the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) stolen assets in front of Taipei's Dalong Market yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Holding the legislative and presidential elections and a referendum on the same day is an excellent idea, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.

While he respects the authority of the Central Election Commission (CEC), he believes that at least the legislative and presidential elections should be held on the same day, said Yu, one of DPP's four presidential contenders.

He made the remarks when approached for comment on a report in the Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday which quoted an unidentified source from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) as saying that the DPP planned to promote the idea of holding the two major elections and a referendum on recovering the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) stolen assets simultaneously on Jan. 19 next year.

The report said that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had discussed the matter with Presidential Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and the party's four presidential contenders, and they had agreed that combining the three elections would be advantageous to the DPP.

If the same policy as in previous years is to be maintained, the next legislative election is expected to be held at the end of the year, with the presidential election in March next year. None of the dates have yet been fixed.

Legislators yesterday expressed conflicting views over whether the three elections should be held at the same.

DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) told reporters that the referendum had to be held along with either one of the two major elections, or it would be difficult for the referendum to pass the threshold.

More than 50 percent of the electorate is required to vote in a referendum for the result of the referendum to take effect.

As for whether the legislative and presidential elections should be held at the same time, Gao said that the public should consider whether holding the elections simultaneously would help save public funds.

When approached for comment, DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-fang (蔡啟芳) said that although previous experience had shown that holding major elections on the same day would not be to the DPP's advantage, he nevertheless favored the idea, because the DPP was not afraid of accepting challenges.

TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝), however, said he disapproved of three simultaneous polls.

Huang told reporters that if this were to happen, it would be the result of selfishness on the part of the DPP and KMT.

The two major parties were trying to limit the survival odds of smaller parties and placing their own interests above those of the nation, he said.

"Voters will not be willing to accept it, because this is a selfish idea," Huang said.

Pan-blue lawmakers yesterday also expressed opposition to holding a three-in-one election.

"The decision on whether to hold the three polls simultaneously is not the DPP's to make. It's the Central Election Commission's decision," People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) told a press conference.

Chang urged the government to leave the decision to a new CEC now that a bill calling for changing the composition of the election body was being reviewed in the legislature.

KMT Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓) accused the government of trying to shore up support for the DPP by combining the three polls.

"Holding the legislative and presidential elections on the same day is acceptable, but we strongly oppose holding the referendum at the same time," Chou said.

KMT Legislator Hsu Shao-ping (徐少萍) vowed to enact the CEC bill as soon as possible to prevent the election commission from being controlled by the government.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said that there were advantages and disadvantages to both the KMT and DPP either way.

The tenure of the CEC will expire on June 16, and the Executive Yuan is required to start nominating new members two months before that.

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said only that the administration would respect whatever decision the CEC made.
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