Taiwan's opposition and ruling parties are readying themselves
for a showdown this week, amid growing calls for its scandal-hit
leader Chen Shui-bian to step down.
The opposition plans to push for a referendum in Taiwan's
parliament to recall Chen over scandals involving some of his
family members.
The island's biggest opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) and its
ally People First Party (PFP) have agreed to seek a recall motion
against Chen in the Legislative Yuan.
Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist
Party leader Ma Ying-jeou (R) and opposition People First Party
leader James Soong(L) attend the rally of opposition parties in
Taipei.
Taiwan lawmakers are set to meet today to discuss whether to
return from the summer recess and hold an extraordinary session,
during which the opposition parties plan to initiate proceedings
for the recall vote. A referendum to oust Chen can only take place
if two-thirds of the 225-seat Legislative Yuan approve the
move.
The opposition would need the support of 10 independent
lawmakers and another 25 from Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) to achieve the required majority, which is considered
unlikely by analysts.
Ahead of the possible referendum to oust Chen, thousands of
people took to the streets of the capital city, Taipei, on
Saturday, calling for his voluntary resignation for the second
consecutive weekend.
Analysts say the protest was part of the opposition's campaign to
maintain its pressure on Chen, whose approval rating has dived to
record lows, and on investigators to press on with a probe into
alleged financial wrongdoings.
Police estimated that more than 20,000 opposition supporters
gathered in front of the presidential office building blowing air
horns and waving yellow flags with the words, "Down with A-Bian",
an abbreviation of Chen's name.
KMT leader and Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou said that Chen had lost
the dignity necessary to function as the leader. Chen "should
resign to reduce the costs to society, so that people will at least
still feel some sympathy and respect for him".
"The pressure from these street protests is much greater than
that of the recall motion as that vote can't pass," said Lu Ya-li,
a professor of political science at the Chinese Culture University.
"On the one hand, the protest puts pressure on Chen and on the
other it puts pressure on the investigators," Lu added.
(China Daily June 12, 2006)
