Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said that, according to the Constitution, a vice president's role is subtle, and that a vice president should not "make too much noise" when supporting the president.
"The Constitution has only one clause that details a vice president's powers, which says, `in the event the office of the president should become vacant, the vice president shall assume the office until the expiration of the term,'" Lee told the Taipei Times at a press conference in Kaohsiung.
"Therefore, they should not make too much noise during their term in office because they are basically powerless," the elder statesmen said.
This was the first time that the former head of state has made his views known concerning the frayed relationship between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).
Citing the example of US Vice President Dick Cheney, Lee said he has made few if any public comments since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
"What he has done," noted Lee, "is to help his President George [W.] Bush to get through the crisis, but quietly."
Lee said it is the first time that Chen and Lu have led the country and conflicts arose because neither of them knew how to adjust to their new positions.
"Vice presidents are always voiceless. I used to be very quiet when I was a vice president," recalled Lee.
Since taking office in May last year, the country's first female vice president has been a continuous source of controversy and embarrassment for the embattled Chen administration.
Energetic, expressive and sometimes fiery, Lu's determination to be of service to her country often comes into direct conflict with the relative powerlessness of her position -- as well as with the stated policies of the government which she is a part of.
Lu has been repeatedly accused of overstepping the bounds of her authority and making improper remarks concerning administration policies and actions.
Lu has said that it is very difficult for her to remain silent.
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