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Legislative elections and referendums: Chen not calling the shots, Hsieh says

Responding to a recent newspaper report, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday denied that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was dictating campaign strategy.

Hsieh denied that Chen had described himself as "commander-in-chief" of the party's election campaigns and asked the media to double-check their facts and quote the president more accurately.

"The president did not say such a thing," Hsieh said. "I read the report this morning. I think the media may have misinterpreted [Chen's] comments."

Hsieh was responding to questions about an interview with Chen published yesterday in the Chinese-language Apple Daily.

The report claimed that Chen "clearly indicated that he is the commander-in-chief of the campaign." The newspaper quoted the president as saying that tomorrow's legislative elections and the presidential election in March should be considered as one.

As a result, there would be no winner or loser until after the presidential election. Nor would any one person be held responsible for the election results, Chen was cited as saying

The report took Chen's remarks to mean that he would not step down as DPP chairman if the party performed badly in the legislative elections.

Hsieh said the media should stop "sticking in a pin wherever there's room."

He said he had to make make the best use of the time left before tomorrow's elections to produce the best possible result.

Hsieh said voters should use their ballots to punish candidates for blocking government budgets and bills in the legislature.

Delaying the passage of government budgets did not adversely affect legislators or the KMT, Hsieh said, pointing out that legislators were paid salaries while the KMT had its assets to fall back on.

"It is the public that suffers," Hsieh said. "Saturday is judgment day."
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