The elections for the legislature's speaker and vice speaker yesterday shed more light on the ongoing political realignment brought about by the transfer of power in May 2000.
All eyes were on the election of vice speaker, whose primary duty is to preside over full meetings of the legislature when the speaker is away. This normally takes place during second and third readings of lengthy bills already approved by all caucuses.
The ruling coalition, comprised of the DPP and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), managed to co-opt a handful of opposition and independent lawmakers to its fold as evidenced by the votes won by DPP vice speaker candidate Hong Chi-chang (
Hong, who lost the vice speakership to KMT flag-bearer Chiang Ping-kun (
The DPP has viewed the race as an extension of the power transition. Though yet unable to dominate the lawmaking body, the party has whittled away the opposition's edge, with the help of TSU spiritual leader and former president Lee Teng-hui (
For this reason, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who personally helped resolve factional resistance to Hong's candidacy, could still take solace in the legislature's leadership shuffle.
The rift-prone opposition coalition, on the other hand, treated the election as a loyalty test to purge Lee sympathizers from its camp.
Lee, who was booted from the KMT last September, is believed to still hold considerable sway over some of its cadre members.
The former ruling party had adopted a rather modest profile since the Dec. 1 election in which its number of legislative seats dropped from 110 to 68.
Apparently taking advice from the PFP, the KMT on Monday named Chiang, former chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, as its candidate for vice speaker.
"It is at the PFP's recommendation that the KMT agreed to enter the contest" that it had previously shied away from, PFP lawmaker Chou Hsi-wei (
To effectively oversee the government, the PFP said it would throw its weight behind the KMT ticket.
"We respect the DPP in deciding the Cabinet line-up," PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) has said. "But we find it more desirable to help the KMT, the largest opposition party, to steer the legislature."
Since swept from power, the KMT has been plagued by potential defections among its malcontent members, but has avoided confronting the problem head-on for fear of damaging morale.
At noon yesterday, the party took a tougher stance and said it would expel lawmakers who failed to vote for Chiang.
KMT strategist Wang Dan-ping (
Emile Sheng (
"In the absence of unpredictable factors, the party may start to rebuild itself, though it may further contract in size for the time being," Sheng said.
Lee has said he can sway up to 25 KMT legislators, if necessary.
Less clear is whether the following three years will witness a more harmonious legislature, with a dozen uncommitted members expected to play a decisive role.
Incumbent Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
"Chances are we can expect more showdown votes in the future to break standoffs over disputed bills," he predicted.
Wang, who succeeded in retaining his post with a record number of 218 votes from the 225-seat body, said President Chen has promised to refrain from brinkmanship in a bid to preserve stability.
"For my part, I will try my best to help rival camps replace confrontation with negotiation," he said.
Low-key, temperate and politically astute, Wang has emerged as the sole heavyweight politician who successfully maintains cross-party friendship in an acrimonious political climate.
But the president has made downsizing the government and the legislature his key policy goal before the legislative polls.
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