Sun, Jul 14, 2002 page3

• Why an alliance for national stability is needed now

  President Chen Shui-bian recently resurrected his proposal to create a `cross-party alliance for national stabilization,' an idea that has touched off a heated political debate. To better understand Chen's proposal, `Taipei Times' staff reporter Ko Shu-ling recently talked with Lawrence Kao, a lawmaker in the DPP's Justice Alliance faction and a member of the party's Central Standing Committee

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  Taipei Times: When the president first proposed the "cross-party alliance for national stabilization" during the run-up to last year's legislative elections, he hoped to use the alliance to stabilize the political scene. Why do you think the president has resurrected the idea now, as there's no major policy dispute in sight for the next two years? Do you think it's necessary to start the group at this moment?

  Lawrence Kao (高志鵬): I cannot think of any time better than now. Facing the irrational and constant objections from the opposition camp, the DPP has to think of something to break the political stalemate.

  

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  I believe many people out there are as puzzled as we were when the KMT and PFP lawmakers were cheering for successfully blocking the appointment of the nominees for grand justice and the Control Yuan during the confirmation vote on June 21.

  Many were as outraged as we were because they prevented lawmakers from entering the voting venue to cast their ballot, when they could've showed their disapproval by casting an invalid ballot or abstaining from the vote.

  Although it may seem there's no immediate partisan confrontation in sight, it's necessary to launch the mechanism now because many bills concerning the agreements of the Economic Development Advisory Conference are awaiting consideration by the legislature.

  TT: Why didn't the DPP launch the mechanism last year during the run-up to the legislative election?

  Kao: We had thought that both the KMT and PFP would have done some self-reflection and stopped their irrational opposition after losing the legislative election, but obviously they didn't.

  While the opposition camp constantly boycotts bills proposed by the ruling party, we're left with no other choice but to launch the group.

  It's understandable why the PFP does so when it has its eye set on the 2004 presidential election. The KMT, on the other hand, is simply letting the PFP lead it by the nose.

  Although it's up to the president as to what form the group will take, how many members it will have, and when it will be formed, the president's decision to resurrect the idea is simply a response to public demand.

  TT: PFP Chairman James Soong has criticized the proposed alliance as a "black-gold alliance" because he said the DPP is bound to offer incentives to woo lawmakers from opposition parties to join, and that the government will be at the mercy of individual lawmakers who drift between the "pan-blue" and "pan-green" camps. By doing so, he said, it doesn't help stabilize the political climate but will only create more partisan confrontation. What are your thoughts on this?

  Kao: It's because the political climate is unstable and partisan confrontation is common that the president has resurrected the idea of launching the "cross-party national stabilization alliance."

  I don't think Soong himself is in any position to criticize "black gold" since he's a "black gold" politician himself.

  No, I don't think the proposed alliance is a "black-gold alliance." Instead, I think it's an open and transparent mechanism that will minimize the bargaining of potential alliance members with the ruling party.

  My experience in dealing with independent lawmakers over the years tells me that they're not as selfish and snobbish as the media portrays them to be. Frankly speaking, they don't even need any incentives to support the bills crucial to the people's livelihood, because if they don't, they will inevitably be punished by their electorate.

  Lawmakers from the "pan-blue" camp, on the other hand, are hard to woo because they are constantly under the pressure and threat of expulsion or admonishment if they act against the party's will.

  TT: Some critics have said that the reason behind forming the proposed alliance now is because Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) was able to secure 113 votes to become the president of the Examination Yuan, and the DPP-led government wants to take advantage of its growing clout in the legislature. What do you think of the remark?

  Kao: Although it's not the main reason, it is indeed one of the good reasons to call for the formation of the alliance, because the opposition camp lost the majority advantage after the KMT expelled four of its lawmakers after the confirmation vote.

  It'd be embarrassing to make the proposal, though, if Yao had failed because the opposition party would say that we want to do it because we were bitter about their victory.

  By and large, the formation of the alliance is a response to the demands of the public, who are so sick and tired of constant partisan confrontation. The matter is pressing and we simply cannot wait any longer.

  TT: What do you think of the criticism that the proposed alliance will cause damage to partisan politics and the constitutional system?

  Kao: I find it preposterous. It's not partisan politics when a party violently prevents others from entering the voting venue to cast their ballots. It's not partisan politics when an opposition party irrationally boycotts a public policy proposed by the ruling party. It's not partisan politics when party members are constantly under the pressure of expulsion or admonishment if they act against the party's will.

  The alliance is not set up to embarrass non-alliance members but to assist with the government's policy initiatives. It's as simple as that.
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