No-confidence vote set for Taiwan PM

Taiwanese legislators Tuesday set a Saturday no-confidence vote on Premier Sean Chen, whom opponents charge has failed to heal the country's ailing economy. Lawmakers from several parties say the vote is unlikely to succeed, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. Ker Chien-ming of the Democratic Progressive Party led a group of 43 representatives in approving the motion for the vote on the first day of the Legislature's second session of the year, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said. The Kuomintang, which holds 64 of the body's 113 seats, opposes the measure, said Wu Yu-sheng, the party's caucus whip. He said the political unrest that would be caused by a vote of no-confidence would only add to the public unhappiness over the economic situation. The problems could not be fixed by toppling the Cabinet, he said. The DPP charges that policies adopted by the Cabinet increased fuel and electricity prices, causing higher commodity prices. It also accused the Cabinet of failing to protect local industries while making the country more reliant on Chinese capital. If the resolution gets the 57 votes needed to pass, Chen would have 10 days to resign or ask the president to dissolve the assembly.