A DPP-allied group released a 25,000 Chinese character critique of the new government yesterday, severely criticizing the inability of President Chen Shui-bian's (
The paper, compiled by the Taipei Association (澄社), emphasized what it saw as the government's inability to overcome constitutional obstacles in order to coordinate financial and economic policies to realize Chen's campaign promises of reforming domestic policy.
"Chen was elected because of his emphasis on domestic reform, but he hardly spoke of these issues until his July 31 press conference. Chen has to urge the Cabinet to carry out his campaign promises, to turn them into feasible policies without causing more financial turmoil," the association's chief, Chiu Hei-yuan (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chiu said a copy of the paper would be sent to Chen, Premier Tang Fei (唐飛), Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅), DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and circulated among Cabinet members.
The Cabinet has failed to fulfill Chen's "3-3-3" and "5-5-5" social welfare policies, Chiu said.
Chen's plans have not only been proven unfeasible, but he has obviously paid little attention to the underprivileged, Chiu said.
Wang Yeh-li (
To counter that, Chen should take a tougher stance when managing standoffs between the executive and administrative branches, he said.
Wang pointed out that Article 44 of the Constitution empowers Chen to convene coordination meetings among the five branches of government in cases of dispute.
Wang also urged Chen to open up formal cross-party negotiations on a regular basis or to try forming a ruling alliance with other political parties.
He also suggested that the ruling DPP play a more active role in Chen's government.
As far as the crackdown on "black gold" politics is concerned, Taipei Association member Cheng Tai-an (
"The more that ministers apologize, the more you can see how the Cabinet has bungled its efforts to carry out the administrative goals of the new government," Cheng said.
Cheng also said he was concerned about the new government's bid to embrace the digital age to improve its administrative efficiency, since a clear timetable for implementation of what has been dubbed the "electronic government" (電子化政府) has yet to be formulated.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the KMT's Policy and Research Department (政策研究工作會) on Aug.15 and Aug. 16 found that some 50 percent of the respondents were satisfied with cross-strait relations and the government's China policies, while 52 percent were dissatisfied with policies concerning social security, crime and environmental protection.
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