Taiwan President fails to defuse political crisis

Earlier this year the half-century stranglehold of the nationalist Kuomingtang (KMT) party in Taiwan was broken when Mr Chen …

Earlier this year the half-century stranglehold of the nationalist Kuomingtang (KMT) party in Taiwan was broken when Mr Chen Shui-bian took over the presidency in the first democratic transfer of power.

But after less than six months in office, Mr Chen's administration is in shambles and a once-divided opposition has united to try to force him from office, an action which could create political turmoil on the island.

Today an alliance of the three major opposition parties will set in motion a parliamentary procedure to recall President Chen, despite his attempt to defuse the growing crisis by making a televised apology on Sunday evening.

The apology was directed to the nation and specifically to KMT chairman Mr Lien Chan for a perceived insult on October 27th. On that day the two men held a televised meeting in an effort at reconciliation after months of verbal brawling.

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During their discussion, the President promised to give more thought to the construction of a fourth nuclear power plant, an issue which has provoked deep divisions on the earthquake-prone island. The plan had been approved by the KMT-dominated legislative Yuan years ago.

Minutes after the programme Mr Chen's Prime Minister announced the government would halt the $5 billion project. Opposition legislators erupted in fury at what they saw as a deliberate humiliation for the KMT leader, and began collecting signatures for a recall of the President and a new election from which he would be excluded.

They could succeed. Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party holds only 68 seats, less than one third of the 220-seat parliament, while the KMT dominates with 115 seats. For the first time since the presidential election, Mr Lien met his bitter rival, Mr James Soong, to form a common front.

The three opposition parties decided to table a procedural motion which requires a majority to start the recall process. If passed they may proceed with the recall motion which needs a two-thirds majority, and must be approved by a referendum after 60 days.

A referendum campaign could open deep social wounds in Taiwan society. The President's opponents claim they already have enough support to pass the motion, but need seven of nine independents to guarantee success.

President Chen's apology was dismissed by opposition figures who accuse him of running the government in an arbitrary manner. "We want to see something concrete. We want to know where the beef is. But we can't find it anywhere in his speech," said Mr Lai Shyh-bao of the opposition New Party.

Mr Chen has been seriously weakened by the crisis, which his supporters say is the result of a plot by the KMT to undermine him because of his anti-corruption campaign, and to make him take the blame for economic woes. The political mud-wrestling has caused the Taiwan stock market to fall 38 per cent and - in a country where 41 per cent of adults own stocks - his popularity has plunged in tandem. Mr Chen's critics say he has been unable to push through his reforms because of arrogance and a failure to forge coalitions.

The move to oust Mr Chen will be watched with interest in Beijing, where he is mistrusted as a closet supporter of independence for Taiwan, which China claims as a renegade province. Chinese communist leaders would much prefer Mr Soong, a populist independent who was narrowly defeated in the presidential election, and who stands to win any new presidential contest.