There’s a small corner of the world, a tiny country many have heard of but few outsiders really understand or, indeed, have traveled to. This country has a fledgling democracy, that is still finding its way. And yet, in this still patriarchal society, one woman stood up for what she believed in, and put herself forward for the nomination of president of the nation. Many disagree with what she stands for. Many have concerns about her close relationship with communists. Many wonder about the advisability of having such a person as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. But still, she fought her way through to the nomination, and eventually succeeded in securing it. It has been called a milestone moment for the country. I would call it a milestone moment for democracy. Especially when she was actually elected. Well done, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Nepal’s first female president.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), “Taiwan’s Sarah Palin,” has just been unceremoniously dumped by her party. The July party congress that put her in the seat for the top job now seems like a distant memory. If her nomination back then had the makings of a Disney fairy tale, the end for her came with a blockbuster finish, cruelly dispatched by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), just in the nick of time before presidential candidates had to officially register with the Central Election Commission. Any longer and it would have been too late; the party would have been stuck with Palin-lite. I mean, I know politicians and commentators in Taiwan are fond of looking to the US for inspiration as to how things are to be done, but Sarah Palin? Come on.
Still, it has been an entertaining few months. It certainly kept us guessing. Will they or won’t they get rid of her? Okay, so we knew they would. But then there was the “When will it happen?” or “What are they waiting for?” And, more pertinently, so close to the election — “What the bloody hell were they thinking?” Finally, the hastily-convened extraordinary national conference to oust her, and — what a surprise! — a massive majority in favor of Chu. Good thing he had that speech prepared in advance, eh?
Photo: Chang Chia-ming
You can imagine the scene. Chu visits President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), sitting on his own in the dining room of the Presidential Palace, the room deathly silent — save for the constant sound of a paper shredder working overtime in the background.
“Dining alone?”
“I prefer it. Can’t stand the sound of people complaining.”
“Oh…Mind if I sit down?”
“Please.”
Ma walks across the room and stuffs a thick wad of documents marked “Surveillance — Top Secret” into the shredder.
“Mr President, I’m worried about Hung. We have to do something. We need a new candidate. I’m thinking of the legislative speaker.”
“Wang Jin-pyng (王金平)? Never. I’ve said it before. That man is not suitable for office. Our province deserves better. The man has no moral fortitude. And he said something nasty about me when we wiretapped him. You’ll have to do it.”
“But I’m already mayor of New Taipei City and the party chairman. I can’t be president as well.”
“Sure you can. It’s a breeze. I should know, I’ve been doing it for eight years. And look at my popularity ratings. Nine out of 10.”
Yes, Ma does seem to have a bit of a problem with Wang. Part of the fun of watching KMT events is the pantomime entertainment of two politicians pretending to get on well with each other. So it is strange that the party’s Central Standing Committee has just decided to change the rules to allow Wang to serve a fourth term as legislative speaker. How unlike the KMT to change the rules, purely for their own convenience. A consolation prize for Wang’s thwarted presidential bid? But it’s only worth a damn if the party can maintain a majority in the legislature. I wonder if this has anything to do with Ma panicking about being dished up the same fate he served former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) the moment Chen’s term ended.
Ma tries to oust Wang on the basis that he was unsuitable for the job due to allegations of corruption. Except Ma fails to oust Wang. Ma then agrees to Wang being able to continue on after he completes his allotted three terms as legislative speaker, so as to keep him off the ticket for the vice presidency. If that’s not magnanimous, I don’t know what is.
Chopped Suey, a satirical column published on the first Monday of every month, will comment on issues related to the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections to be held on Jan. 16, 2016.
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