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Ma slams Cabinet's threat to local election commissions

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) condemned the Cabinet yesterday for threatening to sack local election commissioners if they do not enforce the one-step election system in next year's polls.

Ma said local governments should focus their efforts on maintaining order at polling stations.

"Local governments will find the best way to handle election affairs and maintain order. It's their duty, and they will do so in accordance with the law," Ma said ahead of the release of his latest campaign ads at KMT headquarters.

Ma accused the Cabinet and Government Information Office Minister Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) of manipulating the Central Election Commission (CEC).

"The CEC hasn't taken over local election commissions yet, the Government Information Office has already taken over the CEC," Ma said.

When asked if the KMT would make concessions on the voting system debate, Ma said local governments should follow regulations, and the that two-step voting procedure was used before without any problems.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday that his government would not alter its decision to use the two-step voting system nor would other pan-blue local governments.

"The central government makes different moves every day, and it has taken nine steps so far aimed at creating confrontation with local governments," Hau said.

"The Taipei City Government will continue to handle the elections according to the law and we will exercise the law firmly," he said.

Hau met yesterday with former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to discuss municipal developments and the controversy over polling procedures. He said Lien had given his full backing to the city government and the Taipei Election Commission's decision to use the two-step system.

Hau said Taipei election commission chief Samuel Wu (吳秀光) would attend a negotiation session with the CEC today.
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