‘DAZE’:The nation’s administrative system grants the president power, but not the authority to implement policies, Taiwan Democracy Watch’s president said
Taipei Times
Date: Aug 27, 2016
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
Taiwan Democracy Watch yesterday called for amending the Constitution to allow President Tsai Ing-
From left, National Taiwan University (NTU) professor Liu Ching-yi, Academia Sinica associate research professor Chiou Wen-tsong, NTU law professor Chen Chao-ju and former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Cho-shui yesterday in Taipei comment on the government’s performance since it took office on May 20. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
wen (蔡英文) to directly shape and answer for her policies, amid declining approval ratings for Tsai.
“Tsai wants to get to work, but cannot find a way to do so,” the organization’s president Chen Chao-ju (陳昭如) told a news conference in Taipei that was held to review Tsai’s performance in her first 100 days in office since assuming the presidency on May 20.
As the nation’s administrative system grants Tsai power, but not the authority to implement policies, she had been stuck in a “constitutional daze,” in which she often has to resort to unconventional means to push policies, Chen said.
For example, Tsai gave the Executive Yuan instructions to establish a committee to promote transitional justice for Aborigines under the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Chen said, adding that Tsai has also reportedly berated Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers, mayors and commissioners at the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting; invited Cabinet members to her residency for meetings; and held private “lunchbox meetings” with DPP lawmakers at the Presidential Office. [FULL STORY]