Taipei, Dec. 10 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed his determination Friday to push for the passage of 10 major legislative bills, including a special statute paving the way for a crucial arms procurement package, after the weekend legislative elections.
Chen made the reaffirmation while meeting with U.S. Congressmen Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) , a co-chairman of the pro-Taiwan U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus who arrived in Taipei Thursday for a four-day visit to observe the elections.
The president said he believes that the "pan-green camp" of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its ally -- the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) -- will be able to win a clear majority in the new Legislative Yuan to be elected Saturday.
With a working majority in the legislature, Chen went on, his administration will go all-out to have 10 long-stalled bills clear the legislative floor to kick-start his critical political and financial reform programs that have so far been stymied by the intransigence of the opposition.
Also high on the agenda are a bill on the creation of a financial reconstruction fund, revisions to the existing Judicial Yuan and Executive Yuan organizational laws, amendments to the securities transaction law and the real-estate security law, as well as revisions to the land value increment law to halve the increment tax rates.
So long as the "pan-green camp" wins a legislative majority, Chen said his administration will organize a cross-party commission to work for a thaw in the long-deadlocked cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
Chen assured Chabot that his administration will pull out all the stops to forge contact with the mainland and pursue permanent cross-strait peace and Asia-Pacific regional security and stability through dialogue and consultations.
During their talks, Chen also said he admires U.S. President George W. Bush for managing to win re-election and enjoy a comfortable majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
Chen said his re-election in March this year will be rendered meaningless if the "pan-green camp" fails to win a working majority in Saturday's legislative elections. "We need a working majority in the legislature to implement our reform agenda and realize my campaign promises to our people, " Chen said.