KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday offered to visit President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) before Saturday's elections to discuss Chen's proposal to form a "cross-party alliance for national stabilization."
Chen, however, rejected the offer on the grounds that a meeting before the elections would make the event look like a campaign activity. The president reiterated that he would visit Lien immediately after the elections, bringing along a draft proposal for the alliance.
Lien made the offer to visit Chen one day after the president suggested that Lien was the "main obstacle" blocking the alliance's formation and announced that he would visit Lien immediately after the elections for the sake of the nation's political stability and economic development.
Lien said yesterday that the KMT will cooperate if the formation of the alliance is consistent with the Constitution's framework.
Lien argued that it is "crucial" for a meeting to take place before the elections, because he thinks Chen should explain "what the alliance is all about" so the electorate can make a decision based on the explanation.
"You can't expect people to go to the polls just because of the word `stabilization,'" Lien said. "How are people going to cast their votes when they don't know what he has got up his sleeve?"
Lien said he is most concerned about whether the alliance is an organization set up in accordance with the framework of the Constitution or if it is "outside the system."
If it is "outside the system," the president should explain why the Constitution is inadequate to serve as the basis for the formation of the government and the implementation of the central government's policies, according to Lien.
In addition to subjects concerning the alliance, Lien said, another important issue to discuss with Chen would be possible resolutions to Taiwan's economic problems.
Lien said the president would be invited to express his opinions on the 10 major economic policies put forth by the KMT.
"If the president thinks they aren't feasible, we would like to know if he has better measures," Lien said.
He said Chen is "obliged to spend more time explaining his position before election day," as he seems to have so much time to "attack, criticize and tease others," while campaigning for DPP candidates.
When suggesting Lien was the "main obstacle" on Tuesday, Chen, through his aides, cited a string of examples.
Chen said that the KMT had been absent from the inter-party panel on cross-strait relations last year because of Lien's opposition and Chen's plan to appoint KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) as his envoy to last year's APEC meeting had also been thwarted for the same reason.
Lien also turned down invitations for him to serve as a vice chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Conference in August and to attend a national security meeting held to cope with the possible impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the US, according to Chen.
Responding to Chen's allegations yesterday, Lien said Chen himself is the cause of the nation's instability.
Lien urged the president to be true to his word and stop making personal attacks and unfounded accusations against others.
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