Mon, Jul 20, 2020 page1

• Constitutional reform crucial: Tsai

  MISSION: The DPP should move swiftly to propose changes to lower the voting age, Tsai Ing-wen said, adding that all parties should cherish the ‘constitutional moment’

  • By Yang Chun-hui and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  Constitutional reform is one of the most important advancements for Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday, adding that items that should be prioritized include lowering the voting age from 20 to 18, and abolishing the Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan, as the issues have cross-party consensus.

  Tsai made the remarks in a speech at the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) national congress in Taipei, which she presided over in her capacity as party chairperson.

  Tsai highlighted major missions for the party.

  

  From left, Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang, Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien, Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, Vice President William Lai, President Tsai Ing-wen, DPP Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Chen Chi-mai, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang and Pingtung County Commissioner Pan Men-an join hands at the Democratic Progressive Party’s national congress in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times

  First, the DPP should quickly propose guidelines on constitutional amendments related to lowering the voting age — along with other civil rights provided to citizens over 20 — as well as abolishing the Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan, so that party caucuses can discuss the issues at the legislature’s Constitutional Amendment Committee, Tsai said.

  Tsai also called on opposition parties, saying that all parties should cherish the “constitutional moment.”

  Second, the DPP should dedicate more resources to cultivating young talent for the nation, she said.

  Third, the party should continue to deepen democracy in Taiwan and defend its democratic values amid global uncertainties, Tsai said, citing the situation in Hong Kong, where freedom and human rights have become seriously undermined after China imposed national security legislation on the territory.

  As a party that survived totalitarian oppression, the DPP would share Taiwan’s experience in establishing democratic institutions with the international community, and support Hong Kongers fighting for democracy, Tsai said.

  Fourth, the DPP should “recover its glory in Kaohsiung” by winning the city’s mayoral by-election, which is set for Aug. 15, she said.

  Tsai also said that Taiwan’s economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic has had a good start, as crowds were seen in various locations nationwide on the first weekend following the release of the government’s Triple Stimulus Vouchers, which she said was a sign of increased business opportunities.

  However, the DPP cannot be complacent about its policy results, otherwise public support could slip away, Tsai said, telling party members that “integrity, diligence and love for the country” remain the party’s chief commitments.

  Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokeswoman Hung Yu-chien (洪于茜) said that constitutional reform should be carried out with cross-party consensus, but the Tsai administration does nothing but “exercise crushing tyranny of the majority.”

  The attitude shows no respect for opposition parties and creates “extremely unequal power between the ruling and opposition parties” at the legislature, Hung added.

  The KMT believes the DPP is bringing up abolishing the Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan to shift focus away from its incompetence at governing the nation and its tyrannical leadership, she said.

  The KMT would establish a constitutional amendment committee comprising party members and academics to discuss issues, including the Examination Yuan and the Control Yuan, she said.

  The KMT would not finalize its stance on the matter before that, she added.

  New Power Party caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said his party would support constitutional reform, as it would address issues that have long been unresolved.

  Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Jang Chyi-lu (張其祿) agreed, saying that abolishing the two branches of government and lowering the voting age to 18 are also the party’s long-time appeals.

  Additional reporting by Lin Liang-sheng and Hsieh Chun-lin
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