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CHINA / Taiwan, HK, Macao

Thousands rally, demand Chen to quit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-03 20:15

NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

Ma called on Saturday for a no-confidence vote in parliament against the cabinet because the opposition lacks the two-thirds parliamentary majority for a recall motion to pass.

Under Taiwan's "constitution," a no-confidence vote against the cabinet, if passed, would force Chen to either choose a new "premier" or dissolve parliament and call snap elections.


Taiwanese protesters wave opposition party flags as they call for "president" Chen Shui-bian to step down over an insider-trading scandal involving his son-in-law in Taipei June 3, 2006. [Reuters]

The Nationalists have a razor-thin parliamentary majority and have eyed the "premiership" since Chen won the 2000 elections ending more than five decades of one-party rule. Chen won re-election in 2004 and is barred by the "constitution" from running for a third four-year term.

"All who are unhappy with the Democratic Progressive Party's corruption must stand forward and loudly tell the president: please resign and step down!" said Ma, who plans to run for the 2008 elections.

"This is not conducive at all to social stability and could turn into a power struggle," the Central News Agency quoted "presidential office" spokesman David Lee as saying.

Yu Shyi-kun, chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said the protest exposed the growing divisions in the opposition camp.

Even former "president" Lee Teng-hui, a political ally of Chen, has suggested the "president" should consider stepping down.

"The leader must be changed if he commits a mistake. 'The son of Taiwan' is not just one person," Lee said referring to Chen's self-professed nickname. "Sons of Taiwan are everywhere. Everyone here are sons of Taiwan," he added.


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