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| 2005.02.03 The Straits Times New Taiwan PM sworn in, vows reconciliation DPP stalwart Frank Hsieh says he'll push for cooperation with opposition parties TAIPEI -TAIWAN's new premier Frank Hsieh was sworn in yesterday as he pledged to seek reconciliation with the opposition after several bitterly fought elections left the people divided. But the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) stalwart is expected to face unrelenting resistance in parliament as the island's two main opposition parties set aside recent discord yesterday to secure the powerful legislative Speaker position. 'The ruling DPP is the largest party but it's not the majority party in parliament,' Mr Hsieh, 58, said at his swearing-in. 'We have to be a humble ruler.' He vowed to push for cooperation with the opposition, which retained its slim majority in the 225-member parliament in December's polls with 114 seats. 'We have to push for dialogues with other parties and to start communication and negotiations,' he said. President Chen Shui-bian, who presided over Mr Hsieh's swearing-in, said the government would respect the opposition in the decision-making process and refrain from pushing through controversial policies. Formerly the mayor of Kaohsiung, Mr Hsieh was named premier last week by President Chen to succeed Mr Yu Shyi-kun, who resigned following the DPP's defeat in the polls. Mr Hsieh had pledged to form a 'Cabinet of stability' to seek domestic political stability, cross-strait peace and greater benefits for the people. But he would have to contend with the opposition-dominated parliament, which re-elected Mr Wang Jin-pyng of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) as Speaker at the start of a new term yesterday. Mr Wang, an influential 10-term lawmaker and KMT vice-chairman, is among the front-runners to become the opposition's presidential candidate in 2008. His triumph over DPP's Ker Chien-ming with 123 votes to 101 doused President Chen's hopes of ending the gridlock that has blocked most of his policy initiatives over the past four years. Yesterday also saw Mr David Chung of the KMT-allied People First Party chosen as the Vice-Speaker. 'The new parliament will monitor and check the government,' Mr Wang told parliament after his re-election. Pledging to promote harmony among the parties, he said: 'Reconciliation is more difficult than power struggle...elections are like wars. The people need rest.' At the top of the new legislative agenda will be a controversial NT$610.8 billion (S$32 billion) military spending bill which has been challenged by the opposition. Parliament would also debate two new appointments, including that of Justice Minister Morley Shih, whom Mr Hsieh named to his Cabinet. The Premier has yet to name a vice-premier after failing to woo the KMT's Chiang Ping-kun to be his deputy. -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS |