The Executive-Legislative Interaction

Lung-chu Chen

On July 4th, the Legislative Yuan began general questioning. From March 18th to May 20th, Taiwan's political power has been transferred peacefully. But, the political configuration under the Chen Shui-bian government differs greatly from that under the KMT rule. Party rotation a la a government of all the people poses a new challenge. The ruling and opposition parties of yesterday have reversed their roles today. It takes time and wisdom to adjust to the new situation.

In the era of the KMT rule, legislative proposals of the Executive Yuan were backed by the KMT caucus and machine. Today, while the DPP is nominally the ruling party, the KMT controls a majority in the legislature, plus the newly formed People First Party. As the DPP possesses less than a third of the legislative seats, it cannot direct the passage of bills. On such bills as reducing weekly working hours and national pension, the KMT has outdone the DPP in being overgenerous, without concern for total financial implications. There is a real danger that the Executive Yuan may become the "executive bureau" of the Legislative Yuan.

Party rotation is a fact of life in a democracy, but this is the first time in Taiwan's history. A government of all the people, plus the highly controversial constitutional system of "two executive chiefs," has posed an unprecedented challenge to the new administration. People in different walks of life have made different demands and entertained different expectations, while congress is full of emotional posturing of raw political power, and the new administration is having a really hard time.

The national interest should be placed above the party interest and the individual interest. At this juncture of new experimentation and transition in Taiwan's democracy, political parties should act responsibly, and interact rationally. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect the new administration to offer instant solutions to many of the tough problems that have accumulated over many years. The new governmental team needs time to study and plan, to decide priorities, and to act accordingly. The government of all the people, led by the DPP, is concerned with the interest of all the people, rather than that of a particular party or ethnic group. It is essential that people understand each other, show their care and tolerance, and seek progress in the process of interaction, learning, and adjustment.