Local media unleashed what at first appeared to be bombshell of a report yesterday, revealing KMT plans to launch a no-confidence vote against Premier Chang Chun-hsiung's (
But once the smoke cleared, the KMT categorically denied the idea was part of the party's strategy and it became apparent that the document was actually leaked to the press by a member of the DPP.
KMT spokesman Wang Chih-kang (
"This is a suggestion put forth by individual academics. The decision to raise a no-confidence vote will depend on the overall political situation and on public opinion," Wang said.
Wang, however, questioned the DPP's motives in publicizing the information.
The information was published by local newspapers yesterday, following the divulgence of a KMT research paper focusing on such a strategy for the upcoming legislative election.
DPP Central Standing Committee member Lawrence Gao (高志鵬), who received the paper from friends working in the KMT, passed the information to the media.
The research paper, written in early March, recommends that the KMT seek support for the no-confidence vote by conducting a series of opinion polls on the policies of the DPP government to highlight its low support rating -- a theme that would be timely for President Chen Shui-bian's (
The paper says that June would be an ideal time for a no-confidence vote, which would force a dissolution and reelection of the legislature by the end of August.
This would mean holding the legislative election three months in advance of the originally-planned election in early December.
The paper says the KMT would benefit from an early vote because this would effectively separate the legislative election from local government elections.
The DPP and People First Party (PFP) would then be unable to use the popularity of their candidates running for local government positions to help boost legislative campaigns.
In addition, it argues that early elections would simplify inter-party cooperation in the year-end elections by limiting the cooperation to the local government elections, and prevent KMT supporters from confusing their party affiliation.
The KMT is currently planning to cooperate with the PFP in local government elections, but at the same time may risk losing votes to the PFP in the legislative election because of the overlapping support base of the two parties.
The paper was presented for discussion in a meeting of the DPP's Central Standing Committee yesterday. After the meeting, the DPP issued a statement urging the KMT to abandon partisan and personal interests and give way to national interests.
"Since its defeat in the March presidential election last year, the KMT has resorted to different tactics in an attempt to paralyze the executive branch. It is not surprising that a research group within the KMT has come up with a strategy to overthrow the Cabinet," the statement said.
In response, KMT spokeswoman Chen Feng-hsin (
James Chen (
However, hardly anyone is talking about raising the vote now, Chen said, adding that there would be no reason for the KMT to raise the no-confidence vote unless the DPP government makes another huge policy mistake.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old
SEA SEARCH: Nine crew members of a cargo ship had taken to the water after the vessel sunk off the southern coast, with a rescue effort under way, officials said The strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years yesterday killed three people and flooded parts of the nation’s second-biggest city, while rescuers were searching for nine sailors after their cargo ship sank in the storm. Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in Kaohsiung into rivers, with some households flooded. Offices and schools were closed for the second consecutive day, with thousands of people evacuated. Three people died and 380 were injured due to strong winds and torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Gaemi, the Central Emergency Response Center said. The typhoon made landfall in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) at midnight yesterday and departed Taiwan