Following the victory of the Japanese prime minister's party in Sunday's elections, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) faction yesterday called on Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to support the second-phase of constitutional reform and allow the president to initiate a dismissal of the legislature.
By law, the president can only dissolve the lawmaking body at the request of the premier.
Amendments to the Constitution state that lawmakers can call for a no-confidence vote in the premier if they are upset with his or her performance. A petition to call such a vote must be endorsed by one-third of the lawmakers, and the vote must be called within 72 hours of the petition being filed.
PHOTO: FANG BIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
If more than one-half of the lawmakers vote in favor of the no-confidence motion, the premier must resign within 10 days and can request the president dismiss the legislature as a retaliatory measure.
If the no-confidence motion fails, lawmakers cannot petition for another no-confidence vote against the same premier within a one-year period.
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (
"Ma has said that he would support the second-phase constitutional reform if the legislature were to resume its approval of the appointment of the premier," Gao said.
However, he voiced concern that the legislature would gain too much power as an institution if it had the final say on the appointment of the premier.
"Look at the legislature's right to ratify the Control Yuan members nominated by the president. I'm afraid the pan-blue alliance would simply oppose the appointment of the premier if the legislature was to resume that right," he said.
Gao said that he is sure that both President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), frustrated by the pan-blue blockade in the legislature, would like to emulate Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and dissolve the legislature if they had the power to do so.
DPP caucus whip Jao Yung-ching (趙永清), another Justice Alliance member, challenged the pan-blues to initiate a no-confidence vote if they consider themselves responsible parties and let the people elect a new legislature.
"They would be acting like hooligans if they don't and then continue to boycott government bills," Jao said.
Jao said the caucus does not rule out the possibility of asking the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) or Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) caucus to file a no-confidence motion if the pan-blue camp proves unwilling.
KMT caucus whip Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源) said that if the pan-blue camp were to call a no-confidence vote, Chen must promise to lead the entire government in resigning and let the public elect a new president, new government and new legislature.
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