|
Taiwan's Nationalist Party adopts sweeping reforms
2000-06-19
TAIPEI - Taiwan's Nationalist Party (KMT), still grappling with its unprecedented opposition role, adopted a reform package aimed at making it a more democratic and leaner organization as its two-day party congress ended Sunday. Bowing to pressure from rank-and-file members, who in the wake of the debacle in the March 18 presidential election are demanding a greater say, some 2,000 congress delegates adopted an amendment that will allow for the future direct election of the chairman by the roughly 2 million KMT members, Kyodo News reported. On Saturday, then acting KMT Chairman Lien Chan was formally elected chairman with a 95% support rate in a ballot that was still limited to party delegates. Direct chairman's elections have long been demanded by KMT rank-and-file, but as long as the KMT was in power the party headquarters stuck to its entrenched top-to-bottom approach in decision-making. Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, who stepped down as KMT leader in March after party members, angry over the election defeat, laid siege to the KMT headquarters in Taipei, is widely credited with Taiwan's democratic transition. But he also stands accused of having put the brakes on democratization within the party to prevent traditionalist ''mainlanders'' -- who account for a substantial share of party members -- from obstructing his democratic reforms and efforts to promote a distinct Taiwan identity on the island and within the party. The first direct chairman's ballot could come as early as next year's congress. A new clause bans people who have been ejected from the party from running for chairman, a move widely seen as aimed at thwarting a possible return of James Soong, who was thrown out of the KMT for staging an independent presidential bid. Soong, who meanwhile has founded the People First Party (PFP), remains hugely popular with the party's rank-and-file. Earlier in the day, the congress also vetted by acclamation Lien's appointment of five instead of the usual four vice chairmen. They are former Premier Vincent Siew, who was Lien's running mate in the presidential election, Wu Po-hsiung, a former KMT secretary general and presidential adviser, parliamentary Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, former Defense Minister Chiang Chung-ling, a retired career soldier born in China, and Lin Cheng-chih, a former head of the KMT's women's affairs department. Lin, the only female, was apparently picked to lend credence to the KMT's reform efforts, which include a bid to have more women in the top echelons. Other reforms contained in the package are the full election of the Central Standing Committee, the party's key decision-making body, which was half-appointed in the past. The new committee will be reduced to 31 members from 33 and will reserve one-quarter of the seats for women and youth representatives. Special interest and minority groups such as Taiwan's indigenous people, the handicapped and labor unions will also get at least each one seat on the body. In a bid to rid the KMT of its notorious links with organized crime, the congress also adopted a clause that will ban party members with a crime record from running for political office on a KMT ticket. The KMT 230-member Central Committee will elect the new Central Standing Committee on Monday. In the past the body was dominated by cabinet members and business figures, representing the KMT's major power bases. Since being ousted from government, the KMT's power base has shifted from party headquarters to the legislature where it still holds a majority. Competition for the 31 Central Standing Committee seats has been red hot, in particular among lawmakers who hope to grab 10-12 seats on the body to reflect their greater role in the new political environment. The eventual composition of the new Central Standing Committee is seen as an indicator of the KMT's capability to carry out reform and change its image.
Confidence crisis hits Taiwan investment and stock (2000-09-24)Kuomintang congress brings in reforms (2000-06-19)Taiwan's Nationalist Party adopts sweeping reforms (2000-06-19)Taiwan's Defense Chief To Lead New Cabinet (2000-03-29)Taiwan's Lee Congratulates Chen, Establishes Transition Team (2000-03-20)
| 
