Legislative reform will be the single most important issue after Saturday's polls and a referendum could be used to ensure it gets top priority, President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen said yesterday that more than 80 percent of the public supports measures such as halving the number of legislative seats and creating single-member electoral districts.
Other ideas include lengthening the terms of lawmakers from three years to four and having legislative and presidential elections fall in the same year.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
And if the KMT and New Party don't back the proposed reforms, Chen said, he would take the issue directly to the public through a referendum.
"If reform becomes a nationwide movement, then no individual or political party can say `no' to this trend," Chen said. "If there is any political party opposing [the reforms], we'll have no choice but" to resort to a referendum.
Currently, Taiwan lacks a public referendum law that would allow voters to decide public policy issues directly.
Though the KMT and New Party have yet to announce their stance on proposed legislative reforms, the two parties should heed public opinion, Chen said.
"The threshold for a constitutional amendment is very high, requiring the consent of three-fourths of the lawmakers present," the president said.
"If these two political parties reject reforms, then a referendum law -- the passage of which would only require half of the lawmakers present -- would have to go ahead first."
Asked about his proposed "cross-party alliance for national stabilization," Chen said the group would be a "decision-making mechanism" of 120 members that would include members from each political party. "But these 120 people will elect representatives, who will be engaged in collective decision-making."
"As for myself, I will not play any role, but focus on performing my presidential duties," Chen said. "But this alliance can make proposals on a variety of issues, for example, nominations for premier and the Cabinet or even the new speaker of the Legislative Yuan."
Asked for his opinion on former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) proposed "Taiwan Advocates" (群策會) group, Chen said he would back any organization that assists the nation's development and brings stability to its politics. Chen also plans to attend the group's founding ceremony on Monday.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College