DPP officials said yesterday that President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would not shift his stance on contact with the KMT as he organizes a new cabinet, saying he is determined to form a "people's government" -- transcending the limits of parties, ethnicity and sexual orientation -- and said the KMT should listen to the people.
"It is no longer necessary for the old political system of a `party leading the government' (
"Chen has said clearly that he will step away from all political party affairs and that even the DPP cannot represent the President in negotiating with any other party," Lin said.
DPP lawmaker Shen Fu-hsiung (
"Although the KMT holds 116 of the 224 seats, they now apparently face a crisis, a split," Shen said.
"Some members regarded as supporters of President Lee Teng-hui (
Shen said that it was possible that Tang promised to serve as premier in a private capacity -- not representing his party. If so, he said, then other possibilities could follow.
"Tang could invite other (KMT) heavyweights to join his cabinet and that would speed up the party's split in the legislature," Shen said.
The president-elect's chief policy-making advisor, Lin Chia-cheng (
He said if the people gave Chen power -- by electing him -- then he should try to achieve his campaign platforms.
One of Chen's platform planks, Lin Chia-cheng said, was to organize a "people's government" -- that is, a cabinet made up of the best quality people, where power would not be shared with any particular party.
"The constitutional make-up of our country is not a `cabinet system.' We can negotiate with other parties in the legislature, but it could be different issues with different parties," he said.
He stressed that Chen and Tang would respect one another in the process of organizing the new cabinet.
"Chen will respect the authority of his appointed premier and the process will continue regardless of whether the KMT allows Tang to serve or not," said Lin Chia-cheng.
Shen added that Chen would definitely guide the process of organizing the Cabinet, while leaving the choice of military positions -- such as the next defense minister -- to Tang.
"Although Chen will retain predominant power, he will have to exclude some DPP politicians who are pro-independence, because of Tang's anti-independence stance," Shen said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
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