In 2000, Taiwan became a truly democratic nation when the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election.
After eight years of DPP administration, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) retook control of both the executive and legislative branches of government.
Thus far, the power transfer has been peaceful, and the nation appears to have passed the “two turnover test,” advocated in political science as the milestone for democratic consolidation.
Despite the KMT’s resounding defeat in the nine-in-one elections last month, whether the nation is set for true democratization remains uncertain. It must be forewarned that when a ruling party in a dictatorship loses power for whatever reason, it might attempt to cling to power by exercising all means possible once it retains it.
The KMT is unlikely to kick its bad habits and appears to continue to buy votes to win elections in both local and central governments.
When the DPP was in power, it could have followed the example of South Africa’s “truth and reconciliation” campaign to clean up the secret police and underground network inside KMT hierarchy.
Failing to do so meant failing to alleviate the KMT’s illicit activities, especially during elections.
Worse, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) hired 100 new Criminal Investigation Bureau agents as soon as he was sworn into office in 2008.
The computer sabotage of DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) campaign office during the 2012 presidential election, wiretapping in last month’s elections and an unusually high rate of traffic accidents involving student leaders associated with the Sunflower movement raised suspicions that the KMT still embraces its dark side.
The law of physics states that internal force does not work on itself. If the KMT is to evolve into a democratic party, it needs external pressure, such as the election defeat.
Now is the perfect chance for the KMT to emerge as a more open and honest political party, by recognizing that the majority of Taiwanese have voted for a government that listens to its people. The food safety scandals under the KMT administration illustrate the union between big businesses and elected officials, highlighting the levels of corruption that still exist.
Only when the KMT becomes a democratic party can the nation truly achieve democratic consolidation and become a liberal democracy that stands for freedom, equality and justice; rule of law; accountability of elected officials; and responsiveness to the mass citizenry.
James Hsu is professor emeritus in National Cheng Kung University’s physics department.
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