|
|
| General
>> |
Transition was not without struggle
(Taipei Journal, 11/02/2001)
Story Type:Commentary;
Byline:TJ Editors
The transfer of power from the Kuomintang to the Democratic Progressive Party last year was significant in many aspects. The maturity of constitutional democracy as well as the solid foundation of the ROC constitutional system of government was made manifest.
Furthermore, despite tensions during the presidential election, the verdict of the majority of voters was accepted, thus ensuring a peaceful transfer of government. It was the first time the KMT lost power since relocating to Taiwan in 1949, and reflected the island's changing social and political environment as well as serious internal divisions within the former ruling party, which had eroded its power base.
The event was lauded by political observers--both at home and abroad--as an unprecedented experience, not only because of the great social and political transformation it entailed, but also because of the entirely new agenda, political elite and power structure that emerged.
President Chen Shui-bian called for national reconciliation in his inaugural address, seeking support and cooperation from the KMT and other opposition parties.
Chen also repeatedly raised the possibility of forming a coalition government to cement internal solidarity in coping with new domestic and external challenges as well as managing relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait following the December elections.
The idea of forming a coalition government was considered in light of the fact that the opposition holds a majority in the Legislature. Its cooperation is therefore needed to pass legislation and to implement the administration's agenda.
Last week, however, Chen revealed for the first time in his soon-to-be published memoirs that the transfer of power in May 2000 was not without turbulence. He noted that the outgoing KMT government failed to cooperate fully.
The difficulties served to underline the need to establish a proper system in order to preserve stability and national security. In this regard, the ROC can learn from advanced democracies such as Great Britain and the United States, where government transitions are more routine.
It is also imperative that a politically neutral bureaucratic apparatus be established both for the government and armed forces so that problems of loyalty and constitutional instability do not surface.
Despite the bumpy road, the transition represented the first time in five decades that a democratic change of government had taken place in Taiwan.
|
|
|
