A proposal to make presidential elections a “two-round system” was widely criticized yesterday, with lawmakers saying that it was unconstitutional, would subvert Taiwan’s political system and is a delusional idea that would waste resources.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) earlier this week proposed amendments to the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act (總統副總統選舉罷免法) that would require candidates to win a majority of votes and if no one garners more than 50 percent, a second-round election between the two top tickets should be held.
Article 63 of the act would be changed from the group of candidates who “get the most votes shall be elected” to “get a majority of votes shall be elected,” said Weng, who is a professor of law.
Photo: Chen Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Taiwan should learn from France and Austria, which have two-round systems, she said.
However, lawmakers — including some from Weng’s own party — criticized the idea.
KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said that the proposal calls for a second-round vote — if required — two weeks after the first round, which “would require a lot of resources and come at a high cost to society.”
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that the proposed changes would contravene the Constitution.
Weng’s proposal is a delusional and absurd idea, and exposes her ignorance of the law, Wu said.
Weng should read Article 2 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution (憲法增修條文), which states that “the presidential and the vice presidential candidates” must register jointly on the ballot, with “the pair that receives the highest number of votes” being elected, Wu said.
“To change the electoral system would require considerable discussion in society, as well as an extensive study on how it would affect expenses and resources,” she said.
It appears that KMT members believe a two-round system would benefit their party, she added.
DPP Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) also said that the proposal ignores the Constitution.
“No matter what her aims are, Weng should not undermine the Constitution and subvert our political system,” Lin said.
Lin said that Weng has a political agenda, as her husband is Chen Chun-sheng (陳春生), a judge appointed by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT.
“Weng is supposedly an expert in constitutional law, but it appears that she is trying to circumvent the Constitution, as she knows that the KMT would not be able to reach the threshold to amend it according to the rules — even with the support of the Taiwan People’s Party,” Lin said. “Maybe she is just seeking the media spotlight and attention on social media.”
In January’s presidential election, there were 19.54 million eligible voters, with 14.04 million casting ballots, Weng wrote in her motion seeking the amendment.
“For a ticket to win in the first round, it must obtain more than half of the ballots cast, or about 7.02 million votes,” she wrote.
“The DPP’s presidential ticket of Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and former representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) garnered 5.58 million votes, or 40.05 percent,” she wrote.
The DPP’s ticket did not win a majority and it did not win a majority in the legislature, creating a “rule by minority,” she added.
Additional reporting by Chen Cheng-yu and CNA
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