[EDITORIALS]Stop the buck passing

The political parties are busy passing the buck to each other in the aftermath of the National Assembly's vote against the confirmation of Chang Sang, the prime minister-designate. It is absurd to see the parties blaming each other and saying that the failure to confirm was either due to the Millennium Democratic Party's internal disputes or because the Grand National Party only pretended that it allowed its members to vote on their own. Politicians seem to be trying to shift the responsibilities to each other, lest the adverse effects of the ballot should fall on their party. The GNP is worried that the confirmation failure will rekindle a controversy over the ethical standards of its presidential candidate, Lee Hoi-chang, and arouse negative reactions against the party from women's groups across the nation. The MDP fears the confirmation failure will divulge ugly internal discord.

People have said that the confirmation hearing and the ballot procedures of the National Assembly gave new momentum to establishing a norm for a clean civil service culture. But the assemblymen who have helped to create such a valuable opportunity damaged it by evading responsibility. Some people have said that Chang Sang was shifting the responsibilities to her mother-in-law and secretary. Those critics now appear eager to pass the buck to others. In retrospect, we wonder whether they were qualified to investigate Chang Sang, who withdrew saying, "I humbly accept the decision of the National Assembly."

The result of the voting, 142 against and 100 for, inevitably calls for delicate interpretations and analyses. But the result of the ballot should be respected following the majority rule, and it should be free from political fighting. From the GNP, we see an intention to highlight the MDP's internal disputes. On the GNP's side, we see desperate efforts to utilize the hearing to stop a smear campaign against Lee Hoi-chang.

Because of such negative moves by the major parties, state affairs and politics are drifting about and leaving serious side effects. The two parties should lead the nation in an effort to minimize the aftermath of the Assembly's vote and to put politics back to normal.