Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party called on the island's opposition parties yesterday to cast a no-confidence vote against the cabinet to settle long-standing differences 'once and for all'.
Legislator Kao Chih-peng, secretary-general of the DPP's righteousness faction - a strong supporter of President Chen Shui-bian - said the opposition's repeated boycotting of major government bills had undermined the administration's ability to govern.
Mr Kao challenged the opposition to cast a vote of no-confidence in Premier Frank Hsieh Chang-ting. That would give the premier the right to dissolve the legislature, allowing the public to choose legislators who did not block bills for opposition's sake and who could really do something for Taiwan, he told a press conference.
'If Premier Hsieh and President Chen had the right to take the initiative in dissolving the legislature, I believe they would do this immediately,' he said.
The Taiwanese constitution states that more than three quarters of the 225-seat legislature must endorse a no-confidence vote for it to take effect. The president then announces its dissolution within 10 days.
Chao Yung-ching, the DPP's legislative caucus head, pointed out that because of the opposition boycott, major bills such as a proposed budget for a massive US arms package, the approval of Mr Chen's nominees for the government watchdog, and the reorganisation of cabinet had been shelved for a long time.
