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PFP launches plan to topple premier

The People First Party (PFP) yesterday decided to topple incoming premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), although it lacked necessary support from its pan-blue ally, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

"We reached a consensus at our caucus meeting that, as an opposition party, we have an obligation to oppose an inappropriate premier," PFP legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崑萁) told a press conference.

The PFP, which controls 21 seats of the Legislative Yuan's 217 seats, is unable to launch a no-confidence vote against the premier without the help of the KMT, because such a motion requires the support of one-third of the legislature.

KMT lukewarm

The KMT appeared lukewarm about the idea, with caucus whip Hsu Shao-ping (徐少萍) saying that the party would like to give Chang a trial period.

"As the legislative election is approaching [at the end of the year], it's unrealistic to make the move," KMT Legislator Chu Chun-hsiao (朱俊曉) said.

The Constitution stipulates that the president is entitled to dissolve the legislature and hold new legislative elections if the premier is ousted.

Fu said that Chang's return to the post would have a negative effect on the country's economy because his decision as premier in 2000 to halt the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant had marked the beginning of the economy's decline.

The pan-blue camp issued a statement calling Chang a "persona non grata" in the legislature after the construction plant was temporarily canceled.

Misleading the people

When approached for comments, Chang said that political parties had no right to act in their own interest.

On his way to the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) caucus meeting, Chang said he respected the opposition's right to seek to topple the Cabinet because it is constitutional.

"But political parties cannot do whatever they want. They have to be responsible to the public for everything they do," he said.

Chang's return to the premiership in the last year of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) second and last four-year term may help with the campaign for the legislative and presidential elections.

When asked to comment on Chang, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said: "The Democratic Progressive Party should have known who acts in their own interest ... Politicians should not say something to mislead the people for the sake of defending their own interests."

Chang told DPP lawmakers yesterday that he would prioritize the party's campaign to keep the presidency because the pan-blue camp winning the election would mean "President Chen's performance over the past eight years will be dismissed as worthless."

Chang also dismissed criticism of his performance as premier from 2000 to 2002 amid accusations that he had been responsible for a 2.2 percent decline in economic growth in 2001 and that his suspension of the construction of the nuclear plant cost the economy dearly. Construction resumed the following year.

Additional reporting by Flora Wang and CNA

Also see story:
Editorial: Old premier faces new problems

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