Fri, Dec 10, 2004 page3

• Chang Chun-hsiung predicts a `working majority'

  • By Debby Wu / STAFF REPORTER
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said that he was confident that even if the pan-green camp did not win a legislative majority in tomorrow's election, it would have an effective majority through cooperation with independent legislators. Legislative Speaker and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chair-man Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) meanwhile warned that if the pan-green camp won a majority, the pan-blue camp could "paralyze" the new legislature.

  At the DPP's international press conference yesterday, Chang said that the DPP had secured the promises and support of enough Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) and other independent candidates who are likely to win the election to form a stable majority in the new legislature.

  "There are two stages in our attempt to control a majority in the new legislature," Chang said. "First, we are cautiously optimistic about the pan-green camp's potential to win a majority in the election by itself."

  "Second, there have been NPSU and independent candidates who have shown an inclination to work with us in the new legislature," Chang said. "Through cooperation with them, we are confident that the DPP can control the new legislature."

  Chang declined to name candidates who have given their support to the DPP.

  But Chang also said that President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to correct the names of government agencies and state-owned businesses by using "Taiwan" instead of "China" had actually hurt the DPP's campaign, and instead boosted the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).

  "Earlier we estimated that the DPP could win 100 seats," Chang said. "But the latest poll conducted by the DPP showed that the possible seats we could win have slid from 98 to 96. So it is obvious that the name-change appeal had some impact on the slide."

  Chang said that although there was some conflict between the DPP and the TSU, the DPP would still maintain a cordial relations with its pan-green partner.

  Chang also noted that not all pro-independence "fundamentalists" had shifted their loyalties to the TSU.

  "According to the latest poll, the TSU is enjoying a popularity of about 8 percent, but the fundamentalists take up more than eight percent of the voters," Chang said. "This shows that not all independence supporters have drifted to the TSU."

  Wang, meanwhile, threatened yesterday that if the pan-green camp won a majority, the pan-blue camp would oppose them to the end and paralyze the legislature. He made the statement during an interview with foreign media.

  "If the pan-green camp wins a majority, it would be a subtle difference of only a few seats. It is inevitable that boycott and paralysis would occur," Wang said.

  "The DPP has experience in boycotts, and the pan-blue camp may follow their example," Wang said.

  "So it is better to allow the pan-blue camp to maintain its majority in the new legislature," he said.

  Wang also said that both camps would seek cooperation with the NPSU and independent lawmakers after the election, but that it could turn out that these lawmakers work with the pan-green camp on some bills and the pan-blue camp on others.

  Wang also denied speculation that KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) would step down after the election, saying that Lien had already made it clear he wouldn't step down and that the pan-blue camp needed to focus on the election for now and put all other issues aside.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Napoli’s title hopes shaken by late Genoa equalizer

  • 2

    Barcelona crowned champions

  • 3

    Eurovision Song Contest triggers surge in betting interest

  • 4

    Entertainers questioned amid military service furor

  • 5

    Sinner cruises past Ruud, Gauff battles into final