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Taiwan lawmakers to vote on Chen Third recall bill fails in Taiwan
(about 3 hours later)
Legislators in Taiwan are to vote for the third time on a recall bill aimed at ousting President Chen Shui-bian. A third attempt to pass a recall motion aimed at ousting Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has failed.
If the motion passes it will trigger a national referendum on whether to get rid of the president. Taiwan's opposition was hoping to get enough votes to force a referendum on the future of the embattled leader.
But the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's bloc support for Mr Chen means the bill will be unlikely to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to pass. But ruling party members showed their support for Mr Chen by boycotting the vote, preventing the bill from getting the two-thirds majority needed to pass.
Mr Chen's wife and aides have been indicted by Taiwanese prosecutors on corruption-related charges. Mr Chen has been under pressure in recent months because of a series of alleged corruption scandals.
Mr Chen cannot be prosecuted while in office, as he is protected by presidential immunity, but his wife, Wu Shu-chen, and three former aides have already been charged with the misuse of state funds. His wife, Wu Shu-chen, and three former aides have been indicted by Taiwanese prosecutors on the misuse of state funds.
Opposition supporters are continuing their demands for Mr Chen to step down over the crisis. Mr Chen himself cannot be prosecuted while in office, as he is protected by presidential immunity.
Keeping up the pressureKeeping up the pressure
The opposition parties, which have a small majority in parliament, would need at least 14 ruling party members to back the recall motion in order for it to succeed. The opposition parties, which have a small majority in parliament, needed at least 14 ruling party members to back the recall motion in order for it to succeed.
SCANDAL TIMELINE March 2004: President Chen narrowly wins re-electionMay 2006: President's son-in-law held over insider trading claims Charged in JulyAllegations of improper conduct involving Chen's wife and senior aides also surfaceJune: Chen cedes some powers to PM amid outcryUnprecedented opposition motion to oust him, which failsSeptember: Two weeks of pro and anti-Chen marchesOpposition launch new bid to recall Chen, which again failsOctober: Wu Shu-chen cleared of accepting shop vouchers in return for influenceNovember: Wu Shu-chen charged with corruption over handling of secret presidential fundsProsecutors say enough evidence to indict Chen, but he is protected by presidential immunity Testing times for Taiwan The last two attempts - in June and October - failed as all Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) colleagues stood by him. SCANDAL TIMELINE March 2004: President Chen narrowly wins re-electionMay 2006: President's son-in-law held over insider trading claims Charged in JulyAllegations of improper conduct involving Chen's wife and senior aides also surfaceJune: Chen cedes some powers to PM amid outcryUnprecedented opposition motion to oust him, which failsSeptember: Two weeks of pro and anti-Chen marchesOpposition launch new bid to recall Chen, which again failsOctober: Wu Shu-chen cleared of accepting shop vouchers in return for influenceNovember: Wu Shu-chen charged with corruption over handling of secret presidential fundsProsecutors say enough evidence to indict Chen, but he is protected by presidential immunity Testing times for Taiwan
Analysts say it appears likely that the opposition's bill will fail again. But, as was the case in the last two attempts to oust Mr Chen - in June and October - all Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) colleagues stood by him and the vote failed.
"The number of votes could be even fewer this time," Hsu Yung-ming of Taipei think-tank Academia Sinica, told Reuters. A total of 118 legislators voted in favour of the recall motion - well short of the 146 needed for it to pass.
"It's a waste of time. It won't pass. The Taiwan public is not going to appreciate it." When this third motion was originally tabled, there had been speculation that some DPP members - as well as legislators from smaller parties allied to the DPP - would drop their support for Mr Chen in the light of prosecutors' claims that they have enough evidence to charge him with corruption.
Correspondents say most DPP members seem to be loyal to their leader, and the party has said it will punish any legislators who vote against Mr Chen. But as the vote drew near, correspondents say it grew increasingly apparent that DPP members would remain loyal to their president.
Despite earlier indications, the Taiwan Solidarity Union, a Taiwanese party allied with the president, said on Thursday that its 12 lawmakers would not vote against Mr Chen.