With Taiwan facing a potential constitutional crisis after the National Assembly's passage Friday of a two-year term extension, constitutional experts yesterday suggested that the best way to settle the controversy is to mobilize public opposition to the change and force the abolition of the Assembly.
"Such a serious political issue needs a political force to solve it," said Lin Tzu-yi (
"Even though the assembly deputies will be selected according to the proportional system, whether or not the assembly can actually be abolished remains unclear."
Under strong objection from both party headquarters and public opinion, the National Assembly passed an amendment extending their terms by two and a half years, to June 2002.
The next legislative elections, meanwhile, which had been scheduled for December 2001, were also postponed until June 2002.
Future assembly deputies election will be selected through a proportional system, in which seats will be divided up by the ratio of votes each party garners in legislative elections.
Lin, however, mocked the proposal as `the beginning of another round of troubles.'
"The new amendment clearly states that the terms of the current legislature will last until June 2002 -- it's a kind of guarantee to ensure their term," Lin said.
However, an official at the Central Election Commission yesterday said their was a chance that extension amendments could be overturned.
"If the new president elected next March dismisses the Legislature, the incumbent assembly deputies must operate in tandem, meaning their own terms will be terminated far earlier than expected," said the official, who declined to be named.
Lin said such a scenario was impossible. "If the government wants to dismiss the legislature, how can they justify their action in the apparent violation of the newly passed amendment?" he said.
Furthermore, analysts said the change to a proportional representation system in the Assembly signals a major change -- from `assembly representing the people' to an `assembly representing the parties.'
"In two years, the Assembly will be totally under the control of the parties. Under such conditions, we can expect future constitutional amendments will reflect public opinion even less," said Hwang Jau-yuan (
"In fact, the existence of the Assembly is a huge institutional problem. Although it possesses limited power, such as amending the constitution, oddly we cannot find a suitable institution to check its power," said Hwang.
Others, such as Lee Horng-hsi(
"If such an assembly -- representing partisan interests -- is allowed to continue having the power to confirm senior government officials in their positions, how can we expect public servants, such as grand justices or the president of the Control Yuan, to exercise their powers without any hindrance or bias?" Lee questioned.
Nan-Fang Shuo(
"During the past 10 years, we have been through such political developments as lifting the ban on martial law, popularly electing the legislature and the president. But now are in an era of political immobilization -- all the wrong doings by politicians can easily be forgotten, because deep in their hearts, they are not longing for anything," Shou said.
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