Thu, Aug 30, 2001 page4

• Opposition parties jockey for position

  OPTIONS OPEN As the year-end elections draw closer, major parties are keeping each other at arms length, with the KMT trying to shake its image of troublemaker

  • By Stephanie Low / STAFF REPORTER
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  While upcoming inter-party negotiations are symbolic of an end to the ideology-based standoff between ruling and opposition parties, partisan interests have taken over as the major consideration of inter-party cooperation, analysts said yesterday.

  As the legislative elections approach, the KMT is trying to shake off its image as a troublemaker for the DPP government -- and a major cause of the nation's economic ills. With over half of the legislative seats in hand, it is also trying to highlight its status as a leader in the legislature and its ability to implement economic policy.

  "This is a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone tactic," said Wang Yeh-lih (王業立), a professor of political science at Tunghai University.

  "By taking the initiative and offering a gesture of goodwill, the KMT's main goal is to show the public that it is willing to make a positive contribution to economic development," Wang added.

  Opposition joins forces

  In the aftermath of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant dispute last November, the KMT joined the People First Party (PFP) and New Party to form an opposition alliance, posing a threat of monumental proportions to the Chen administration, and hampering almost every piece of Cabinet-initiated legislation.

  The stalemate appeared to have been broken when, with the participation of all major political parties, the Economic Development Advisory Conference came to a successful conclusion this week.

  Taking things a step further, the KMT has offered to initiate an inter-party negotiations in its capacity as the largest party in the legislature, to come up with the legislation necessary to implement proposals made by the conference.

  This move can be interpreted as yet another olive branch to reach out to the DPP and may set the stage for a possible DPP-KMT coalition after the legislative elections.

  Emile Sheng (盛治仁), an assistant professor of political science at Soochow University, said the course of events is moving toward political reconciliation, as almost all political parties are now trying to reserve a certain degree of flexibility in the shaping of the post-election coalition.

  "Almost all political parties are now trying to keep an equal distance from each other," Sheng said. "President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has avoided standing too close to the Taiwan Solidarity Union. And now the KMT and PFP are maintaining some distance between one another."

  The opposition alliance has proposed that the party controlling more than half of the legislature's seats should have the right to form a coalition government.

  Nevertheless, the KMT's showing in the legislative elections -- whether it controls a majority of legislative seats or not -- will be decisive.

  Though a KMT-PFP coalition is widely considered the most possible, due to their shared ideology, recent moves by the two opposition partners indicate other possible groupings are on the horizon.

  Just one day after KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) unveiled plans to initiate the inter-party negotiation last Tuesday, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) saidhis party would not rule out the possibility of assisting "any political party" in bringing stability to the unruly legislature.

  Soong's remark has been interpreted as a hint that the PFP might be willing to ally with the DPP.

  Playing the game

  "The PFP is trying to show that it has other options, which is a way to increase its bargaining power when negotiating with the KMT on the future formation of a coalition government," Wang said.

  Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), a political science professor at National Chengchi University, said regardless of whether the KMT continues with a majority or not, it is a party priority to be included in the future coalition government to sustain the party's relevance.

  "If the KMT refuses to negotiate with the DPP, the ruling party will be forced to negotiate with the PFP. In this case, the KMT will lose the chance to build up the party through participation in the administration," Wu said.

  Over the past year, the approval rating of the KMT has been the lowest among the three major political parties, and Lien's popularity has also been the lowest among the three potential candidates in the 2004 presidential election.

  "It is very important for the KMT to take a more cooperative stand in order to boost Lien and the KMT's popularity," Wu said.
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