The political struggle stirred up by the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant dispute is unlikely to end with the issuance of a constitutional interpretation, analysts predicted yesterday.
New Party Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (
"If the interpretation is so vague that all sides can claim victory, I will feel sorry for the nation," Lai said.
The Council of Grand Justices is set to issue its interpretation of the dispute tomorrow.
A preliminary ruling made by the majority of Grand Justices on Friday stated that the Executive Yuan's decision to scrap the project was a major constitutional issue, and the Executive Yuan should have obtained the Legislative Yuan's approval before making the policy change.
While political instability will continue until the legislative election at the end of this year, it will not end unless President Chen Shui-bian (
It is widely believed that none of the political parties will seize over 50 percent of legislative seats at the next election.
"A Cabinet that isn't supported by over 50 percent of lawmakers is bound to be unstable," Lai said.
With speculation that the issuance of a constitutional interpretation may lead to the replacement of Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and a government reshuffle, Chen spelled out his support for Chang's Cabinet on Friday. Chen said he has not considered forming a coalition government. Chang has not indicated he will step down.
Yeh Yao-peng (葉耀鵬), a former DPP Control Yuan member, criticized Chen and Chang for being irresponsible. He said even if the Grand Justices' interpretation does not specify the Executive Yuan's decision was unconstitutional, Chang should step down to mollify the opposition.
Yeh said the incident was an opportunity to examine Taiwan's constitutional system -- whether it is a presidential or semi-presidential system.
Yeh also said if it is a presidential system, Chen should step down to take the responsibility for the improper way the decision to scrap the plant was made. If it is a semi-presidential system, then the premier should step down. "The attitudes of the president and the premier show that they don't intend to take any responsibility, and are treating the Constitution like a toy," Yeh said.
The opposition-controlled legislature has made Chang a persona non grata and refused to let him attend Legislative Yuan sittings since Chang announced the government's decision to scrap the power plant project on Oct. 27. The legislature has also requested the Control Yuan impeach Chang over what it claims was an unconstitutional decision.
Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Taiwan has been one of the largest buyers of US defense equipment, supporting American businesses and jobs, US lawmakers said Taiwan has been paying for its own defense, a US Department of State official said on Wednesday, adding that purchases of military equipment are important to the US economy and for ensuring regional security. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a news conference about comments by former US president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in November’s US presidential election, who said during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay Washington for its defense needs. “The purchases that they [Taiwan] have made not only are important, we believe, to regional security, but are important to the United States economy,”
END OF SESSION: Other changes that passed involved the removal of restrictions on group tours to China and raising the sentence for people found guilty of child abuse Legislators yesterday passed the third reading of amendments to Article 49 of the Electricity Act (電業法), which stipulate that at least half of the electricity price evaluation committee should be made up of civilian representatives, and a resolution to invite President William Lai (賴清德) to present a state of the nation address at the Legislative Yuan. They also passed a motion proposed by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) that the government remove restrictions on group tours to China. On the last day of this year’s first legislative session, the legislators attempted to deal with dozens of bills