The disorganized reconstruction work in the wake of the 921 earthquake has been the subject of bitter criticism. Some observers said the shambles was a result of the downsizing of the Taiwan Provincial Government. However, the real problem is not that we don't have enough levels of government, but that we have too many.
Unified administration is a key factor in the success of relief and reconstruction, and the Executive Yuan is authorized by the Constitution to take this responsibility. But Vice President Lien Chan (連戰), who has no real authority, immediately took charge of relief operations and established a relief supervision center, while Prime Minister Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) headed a reconstruction committee a few days later. Who is in charge?
And again, in just a few days, compensation payments for people killed in the 921 quake were increased from NT$500,000 to NT$1 million per person. Apparently, this was an order issued by Lien for implementation by Siew. This is not strange at all, given their positions in the KMT. The problem is what legal basis has Lien -- since President Lee Teng-hui (
Since Lee is the chairman of the KMT and Siew is Lien's running mate for the March 2000 presidential election, they both gave way to Lien, allowing him to instruct officials of the Executive Yuan. As a result, a three-level government has emerged. And if we add county (or city) and township levels, we have five levels of government. How can a "five-level" government possibly be efficient?
Although Taiwan established a semi-presidential system in the first direct presidential election held in 1996, it does not have a mechanism, such as exists under the French model, whereby a president and premier can belong to different parties, let alone one that allows for a left-right coalition. But even though Lee, Lien and Siew all belong to the same party, they maintain different opinions.
It is no wonder, therefore, that relief policies are constantly changing, making it difficult for local governments to work effectively.
In the future, once the presidential office and the Executive Yuan are controlled by different parties, or once the premier does not happen to be a vice presidential candidate, will the premier listen to the vice president?
If our political system does not take in long-term planning, then Taiwan's ability to deal with emergencies will remain paralyzed.
Lin Cho-shui is a legislator.
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