Parties end talks on government reforms
Negotiations between Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties seen as crucial to the survival of planned government reforms concluded yesterday without significant breakthroughs.
Representatives of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), led by Secretary-General Wu Poh-hsiung, only managed to hammer out technical details concerning the agenda of proposed revisions to the constitution in a 2.5-hour meeting with counterparts from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), led by chairman Hsu Hsin-liang.
The proposed reforms, which would radically alter the structure of Taiwan's Government at the central, provincial and local levels, were adopted by both parties following a landmark consensus reached last December at the National Development Conference.
The consensus included agreement to scrap the Taiwan provincial Government and establish a French-style 'duarchy' system of government with a president and a Cabinet premier.
Taiwan's National Assembly, an elected body that reviews constitutional amendments, has been directed by the leadership of both parties to approve the amendments before July 1.
But since December, both parties have come under mounting internal criticism, which has threatened to thwart the entire reform process.
The DPP has attempted to soothe criticism from members opposed to the 'duarchy' system by trying to obtain KMT approval for simultaneous insertion of two competing amendments on the National Assembly's agenda, including one that would establish a 'duarchy' and one that would set up a US-style presidential system of government.
Yesterday, KMT spokesman Tsai Pi-huang and DPP spokesman Sisy Chen Wen-chien confirmed that the KMT had not assented to the controversial proposal. Another meeting would be held on Wednesday to smooth out the controversy, they said.
