Seizing on Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Chen Shui-bian's pledge to stop the construction of Taiwan's controversial fourth nuclear power plant, the former ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party is leading a major drive to unseat Chen from the presidency.
The KMT was backed by US in the wake of World War II as a bulwark against communist China. After 1987, KMT-imposed martial law was gradually liberalised, allowing a popular vote for the presidency for the first time in 1996. Taiwan's second such election was held in March and was won by Chen. The pro-independence DPP grew out of the anti-martial law movement of the 1970s and '80s.
While the DPP is by no means pro-worker, it has taken a more progressive stand on some issues, including trying to halt Taiwan's growing dependency on nuclear energy.
Since starting to exploit nuclear energy commercially in 1987, Taiwan's three nuclear power plants have generated 180,000 drums of radioactive waste and the stockpile is growing. The decision to halt the US$5.5 billion fourth nuclear plant will be expensive as it is already 30% completed.
Taiwan's emerging environment movement was not strong enough to stop the plan for a fourth nuclear plant being approved by the KMT government in 1996.
While the KMT still has a major influence in parliament (controlling 52% of the seats), its grip on power has been seriously eroded since losing the presidency to the DPP. As president, Chen has the right to appoint the premier. This gives him a significant say in the day-to-day running of government. However, the DPP's wings are clipped by controlling just 30.7% of the parliament's seats.
Since DPP Premier Chang Chun-hsiung announced the cabinet's decision to scrap the fourth nuclear plant on October 27, the KMT has been threatening to pass a motion to sack Chen as president.
The People First Party (formed only last year by KMT dissident James Soong Chu-yu) and the New Party have agreed to help the anti-Chen campaign and enough signatures have been collected to put the impeachment motion to parliament.
A successful motion to recall the president must have the support of at least 66% of the legislators. The KMT, People First Party and the New Party only control 63.8% of the seats. The remaining 5.4% of legislators who are not DPP members are independents. The KMT is striving to secure their votes.
If parliament votes to recall the president, a popular referendum will be held to approve the decision. If it is approved, a new general election must take place.
Not all voters are waiting until then. Since early November, demonstrators, including anti-nuclear activists, have mobilised on a few occasions outside the parliament building to protest against the KMT's impeachment attempt.
More than 100 anti-nuclear and other groups have planned a mass protest on November 12 to support to Chen's plan to scrap the new nuclear plant. They will be joined by participants of a workers' march — dubbed the "autumn struggle" — called to defend wages and conditions.
BY EVA CHENG