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DPP legislators demand Liu’s head over economy

Members of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus chant slogans and hold signs criticizing the government’s performance while Premier Liu Chao-shiuan, not pictured, tries to address the Legislative Yuan on the first day of the new legislative session in Taipei yesterday.  PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday struggled to deliver his administration policy report amid calls for his resignation from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Shouting “Liu Chao-shiuan, step down” and waving large posters, DPP lawmakers several times blocked Liu from taking the podium, which twice resulted in Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) sending the session into recess.

DPP lawmakers also chanted “President Ma [Ying-jeou (馬英九)] was playing in the water while flood victims were suffering,” while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers shouted back that former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), who again failed to attend yesterday’s court session in the state affairs fund case, should appear in court.

The DPP lawmakers’ slogan was a reference to the allegation made by DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) that Ma had spent two hours swimming every morning from Sept. 12 to Sept. 16 while flood victims suffered the consequences of damage caused by Typhoon Sinlaku over the weekend.

Finally managing to deliver his briefing, Liu spoke of how taekwondo athlete Su Li-wen (蘇麗文) battled on in the Beijing Olympic Games despite her injuries.

He vowed that the Cabinet would fight until the last minute to lift the country out of the global economic downturn.

“In the spirit of perseverance Su Li-wen has demonstrated … the Cabinet will create economic prosperity, social justice and a sustainable environment for our fellow citizens and build a strong basis for our descendants to live in a wealthy and powerful country,” Liu said.

Liu detailed his policy plans in terms of five aspects: enhancing the country’s competitiveness, taking care of disadvantaged people, implementing a sustainable energy policy, invigorating culture and technology development, and listening attentively to the public’s opinions.

During the question-and-answer session that followed, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) demanded that Liu resign.

Ker said that Ma’s appointment of Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) on Thursday to lead an economic advisory task force that will provide the Cabinet with recommendations on its economic policies suggested that Ma distrusted Liu’s ability to perform his duties.

In response, Liu said he was satisfied with the Cabinet’s performance over the past four months.

Some KMT lawmakers also joined in the criticism of Liu and his Cabinet.

KMT Legislator Lin Pin-kuan (林炳坤) said the Liu Cabinet’s performance in the current economic situation was worse than the former KMT government’s handling of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

KMT Legislator Daniel Hwang (黃義交) accused Liu of being indecisive.

Liu responded by saying that although some of the Cabinet’s policies have not been as beneficial as had been expected, it would take time to achieve policy goals.

Fielding a question from KMT Legislator Wu Chin-chih (吳清池) about the government’s procrastination in determining who should be held responsible for the damage and deaths caused by Typhoon Sinlaku, Liu agreed to move forward the deadline given to Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) from Tuesday to tomorrow.
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