President Chen Shui-bian today attended the inauguration ceremony of the Democratic Progressive Party caucus of the Ad Hoc National Assembly and delivered a speech.
The president said, "May 14 was the election day of the Ad Hoc National Assembly with more than 80 percent of the voters accepting the constitutional reform bill passed by the Legislative Yuan on August 23 last year. This kind of result is not the victory of any political party or group. It is the victory of democracy, the victory of the people and the victory of Taiwan".
The president also emphasized that facts have proved that the Taiwanese people expect and need a constitutional reform, and this urgency has already become a force that cannot be stopped. Any party or group representing Taiwan's mainstream value has to give a response to this new tide of public opinion. Therefore, each of you has to respect the promise given to the people that this stage of constitutional reform could be achieved. We must not let down the expectations that the people placed on the Democratic Progressive Party and each of you.
The president's speech is as follows:
I am very happy today, and I feel honored to be invited to our party's Ad Hoc National Assembly caucus inauguration. First, I would like to express my respect and greetings to the new National Assembly members because each of you will witness the inauguration of the most crucial moment of Taiwan's constitutional development. You are not only writing a new page in the history, but your name will also be remembered.
May 14 was the election day of the Ad Hoc National Assembly, with more than 80 percent of the voters accepting the constitutional reform bill passed by the Legislative Yuan on August 23 last year. Such a result is not the victory of any political party or group. It is the victory of democracy, the victory of the people and the victory of Taiwan.
The constitutional reform that had been feared in the past years was considered as a mission impossible. That included abolishing the National Assembly and integrating referendum in the constitution. After all these years, it finally became the Taiwanese society's mainstream public opinion. After this stage of constitutional reform, Taiwan will not only have a normal parliament, but also an opportunity to adopt a timely, fitting and useful new constitution, making Taiwan a normal, integral, progressive and beautiful country.
I believe that everyone should be expecting very much like me about this constitutional reform, but still fear of being hurt because it has gone through too many frustrations. If only one of the links was not dealt with properly, this entire work could fail. But the truth is that the Taiwanese people are eagerly expecting and needing this constitutional reform. It has already become a force that cannot be stopped. Any party or group representing Taiwan's mainstream value has to give a response to this new tide of public opinion. Therefore, each of you has to respect the promise given to the people that this stage of constitutional reform could be achieved. We must not let down the expectations the people placed on the Democratic Progressive Party and each of you.
Since August 23 last year when the Legislative Yuan passed the amendment of constitutional reform to May 14 this year, some political parties have changed their stance and the disputes over the power of the ad hoc National Assembly, all these incidents have once and again proved that the Democratic Progressive Party is the No. 1 brand, or the only brand in Taiwan, in advocating social reform. We will surely make modifications and adjustments to meet the new developments, but our insistence on reform and faith in democracy will never waver.
The reforms concerning 'halving the seats at the legislature' and 'one district two votes' are sure to bring a great impact on the Democratic Progressive Party. It surely will follow with a period of adjustment and pain. But for the good of the country, for the sustainable development of Taiwan, personal and party interests must be set aside.
In the past, I used to say that a reform, which can endure tryouts, is a real reform. 'If you have not been chilled to the marrow by the cold of winter, how can you smell the perfume of the plum flower?' This stage of constitutional reform has endured hard moments. The reform is not a check that could not be cashed, but a firm commitment that will not change. We have to do what we have promised. We must not deceive our voters with the promises we made during campaigning and forgetting them all after election. Because of our insistence and fortitude, the people can see that the Democratic Progressive Party is a party that keeps its words, a party that insists on its ideas and its image.