PDF(2.7mb) - 國家政策研究基金會

12 Taiwan Development Perspectives 2009
radicals had no chance in the legislative elections of
2008. Moderate candidates won. Polarization will not
help win elections. Candidates’ “love of Taiwan” may
never be asked of them as their political correctness in
the dichotomy between islanders and mainlanders in
the future. Political moderation will prevail in future
elections.
communal harmony, continuing political reform, and
achieving a unity of purpose of the nation to rebuild its
economic strength and increase its national competitiveness
that Taiwan may play a role in the world commensurate
with its power in the years to come and serve
as a model of democratic development for developing
countries and Chinese societies.
4. Leaning towards the Presidential System of
Government
The Constitution mandates a system of government
similar to the French dual-leadership system,
which is also known as the semi-presidential system.
Since the Kuomintang won the presidency and the
overwhelming majority in the Legislative Yuan in 2078,
a tilt towards the presidential system has emerged. As a
matter of fact, President Chen Shui-bian imposed a
minority government in violation of the spirit of the
Constitution, though his Democratic Progressive Party
never had a majority in the Legislative Yuan, to which
his head of government or premier is responsible. The
Constitution gives the president the power of appointing
the premier without the consent of the Legislative
Yuan, while requiring the head of government to be
responsible to the parliament. But the legislature is fully
under control of Ma’s Kuomintang and he appointed
the premier, the system of government is more presidential.
It leans towards presidentialism.
V. Conclusion
The Kuomintang won the presidential and legislative
elections of 2008. It had won a majority of local
elections before. The Kuomintang is now in control of
the presidency, the parliament and most of the local
governments. It has the power it did before the lifting
of martial law in 1988. The great power entails responsibility
just as great. The ruling party has to be accountable.
It has to be put to strict public scrutiny. It
needs to promote civil society. It has to rise above the
dispute over independence versus unification.
Moreover, the Kuomintang must aim at restoring