A local newspaper yesterday quoted former president Lee Teng-hui (
The Chinese-language China Times, which interviewed Lee, quoted Lee as saying Chen had overstepped his powers.
Chen has used his position to amass personal wealth and only worked to serve the interests of his own family, Lee said.
HELD HOSTAGE
The report, which did not specify when the interview was conducted, quoted Lee as saying he was worried that the nation was being held hostage politically by the two main political parties.
Taiwanese politics is nothing more than a never-ending brawl, the spiritual leader of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said.
The only way to improve the situation is for voters to cast their preferred-party ballots wisely in next month's legislative elections, lest the nation "go under," Lee said.
Voters will cast two ballots in the election: one for their preferred candidate within their district and one for their preferred party for legislator-at-large seats.
FACE THE MUSIC
Being elected president "does not make you emperor," Lee said, adding that abuse of power is a violation of the Constitution and that Chen would have to pay the consequences after his term had ended.
Lee was also quoted as saying that Chen lacked faith and was incapable of promoting ethnic harmony.
Lee further said he no longer wants to share the stage with Chen.
On the topic of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidates, Lee said the DPP's Frank Hsieh (
NO PROMISE
As for Ma, Lee said he had proven himself incapable of managing Taipei City and wondered how the former mayor could run the whole nation.
The story quoted Lee as saying that he still had high hopes for a third force in the legislative and presidential elections.
He also said there was a risk that both the DPP and the KMT would split.
Lee further said next month's legislative elections might be followed by the emergence of a true grassroots movement that could become a vehicle for a third force.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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