The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) legislative caucuses yesterday decided not to initiate a referendum on the fate of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant during this legislative session.
This means the question of what to do with the power plant will not be put to the vote on the same day as the presidential election on March 20, although the "defensive referendum" proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (
At a press conference yesterday morning, KMT legislative whip Lee Chia-chin (
"While we respect people's right to exercise direct democracy, we, as a responsible party, will pass the opportunity to mount any referendum alongside the presidential election because the presidential poll is the best and most genuine way of expressing people's opinions," Lee said.
He said voting for the blue camp's Lien Chan (
Lee held the news conference following a meeting between KMT Secretary General Lin Fong-cheng (
The KMT and PFP would have had to file their request today, as the legislature is holding its last procedural committee meeting to carve out the agenda for the last plenary session. The legislature's winter recess is due to start on Jan. 13.
The controversial new Referen-dum Law (公民投票法) enables the Legislative Yuan to initiate a referendum on topics that lawmakers feel should be referred to the public.
The electorate can also initiate a referendum by filing a petition endorsed by 0.5 percent of eligible voters.
The topic of such a referendum must be screened by the Referendum Review Committee before it can be put to the vote.
While it is widely believed that it might be too late for the electorate to initiate a referendum on the same day as the presidential election, Chen could get his wish to call a "defensive referendum" if he obtains the Cabinet's approval by Feb. 24.
Lee yesterday challenged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to assist former DPP chairman and staunch anti-nuclear activist Lin I-hsiung (
"I have only one thing to say to the DPP: credibility bankruptcy," said KMT Legislator Liao Fung-te (
"We quit playing the March 20 referendum game and we'll let President Chen play it alone. People will eventually know they don't mean what they say," Liao said.
PFP whip Chou Hsi-wei (
"Chen has tied the `defensive referendum' to the presidential election. It is not only a waste of taxpayers' money, but also creates social unrest and is clearly aimed at wooing voters," Chou said.
In response to the opposition bloc's accusation, DPP whip Chen Chi-mai (
"Our stance on the matter is quite clear: We oppose the legislature initiating a referendum. We'll launch a promotion campaign on Sunday to encourage people to sign up for the petition to hold a referendum on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant," Chen said.
Meanwhile, DPP lawmakers Lai Ching-te (
These articles include the legislature's right to initiate constitutional amendments and the establishment of the Referendum Review Committee.
The DPP's legislative caucus yesterday requested a constitutional interpretation by the grand judges and is planning to table some amendments to the Referendum Law.
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