The Executive Yuan's decision to resume the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project has forced some DPP politicians, especially those elected from Taipei County, to take a tough stand in what is an apparent attempt to secure support from anti-nuclear voters in the year-end elections.
The DPP is currently conducting a party primary for the legislative race. Candidates' support ratings in public polls constitute up to 70 percent of their total performance in the primary.
DPP legislators Chou Ya-shu (
"If the premier doesn't consent to a public referendum [to seek an ultimate solution to the dispute], his wisdom will be in question. If the premier is unable to effectively calm the dispute, we would rather he assume full responsibility and step down," Chou said.
The legislators cited an upcoming large-scale demonstration to be staged by anti-nuclear groups on Feb. 24 to support their claim that the dispute still remains, despite the Executive Yuan's decision to give in to opposition parties and announce a resumption of the project.
They blamed the Executive Yuan for "losing its ground entirely" in the decision-making process, because it is now resuming the project, after its decision to discontinue the project last October resulted in numerous financial losses and severe conflict with opposition parties.
According to Lai, a public referendum can still be held even if a referendum law is unavailable now.
"This is a constitutionally protected right -- for the people to participate in the decision about a public policy," Lai said.
Lai said the main purpose of a referendum law is to set a legal threshold for the turnout rate for a ballot.
"Therefore, we are asking for a referendum at the time of the legislative ballots to ensure a high turnout rate, which represents public opinion," Lai explained.
Chou Po-lun (
Chou refused to take part in a nine-member panel hosted by President Chen Shui-bian (
Meanwhile, Taipei County Commissioner Su Chen-chang (
"When there are already two nuclear power plants in Taipei County, the continuation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant will make the county the place with the highest density of nuclear power plants in the world," Su said.
Commenting on some DPP members' desire for a public referendum on the plant, Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"As the debate on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project has now come to a conclusion, I don't think we should go back and revisit the topic by way of a public referendum," Wang said.
The DPP legislative caucus is expected to raise the issue of enacting a referendum law in negotiations with opposition caucuses today.
However, opposition lawmakers have recently said though they were not against the enactment of a referendum law, they insisted the law be "non-retroactive," meaning the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project would be inapplicable for a public referendum even under such a law.
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