儘管國民黨魁選舉已經落幕,且對此攸關未來二○○八年總統選舉的政黨活動,已有很多政治評論家或媒體工作者予以分析。但本文將提供不同的思考視野,即另以地方自治發展的角度,試圖研析首都市長當選國民黨主席之後的可能衝擊又本篇短文業在2005.07.19登載為中國時報A15版時論廣場學者專論,該報標題則是「霸侯現象的崛起」;本篇的英文版標題為Center sees an injection from local government,復另登載於Taipei Times/Friday, Jul 22, 2005,Page 8)......
首先,當台北市長兼任國民黨魁之後,所謂的「霸侯現象」將更有機會獲得確認。也就是說,自一九九八年台灣結束精省工程之後,任何擬邁向凱達格蘭大道的國家領袖,或是想要成為朝野最大黨魁的政治精英,不論出身自綠軍抑或藍營者,都必需是曾任台北市長、高雄市長抑或台北縣長等重要「選舉票倉」的百里侯,且將成為台灣政治發展過程的特有現象。
依此觀之,馬當選為國民黨主席並取得問鼎總統寶座的門票之後,今年與明年底縣市長、直轄市長選舉的競爭激烈度,將會再度獲得加溫,因為各該重要百里侯選舉所決定的,正是「下一代」的綠軍領導人,或是藍軍領袖「接班人」。更精確的說,即使國會席次減半、選區重劃的修憲內容施行之後,立委選舉的重要性還是遠遠不如百里侯選舉,甚至立委選舉必定就是日後百里侯選舉的跳板而已,比起現在的「過水政治」將更為明顯可見,並容易導致台灣有意無意成為「重行政、輕立法」的特殊國度,這則是我們必需注意到的政經風險。
其次,兼任國民黨主席的首都市長,由於依法可以列席行政院會議的關係,就會形成在野黨領袖直接參與行政院會議的奇特現象,使得執政黨的重要決策均必需與在野黨主席「共同決定」。然而,此處的「共同決定」卻更有可能是將「朝野對決」的場所,從原先立法院議場的質詢、辯論與表決移轉至行政院會之內,例如「謝長廷閣揆vs.馬英九市長(馬主席)」的電視轉播畫面,如全面被解讀為「朝野對決」的話,將無助於朝野政黨的「共生和解」,除非謝、馬兩人均能夠自我抑制彼此的不同論點,順利將「朝野對決」轉為「朝野共治」。
另值得注意的是,當台北市長兼任國民黨主席之後,直轄市長的政治地位將再度獲得提升(尤其是台北市),則長久以來,台灣所謂「重直轄市、輕視縣市、無視鄉鎮市」的地方自治發展之生態,並不會因此有所轉變,反而還會貽害更深,進而使國家的資源(如統籌分配稅款)更是集中在直轄市或大型縣市的身上,反無助於「區域發展」的均衡,除非新的行政區劃能夠重新展開。
除此之外,當台北市長兼任國民黨魁之後,或許\國民黨的重要幹部也將以馬團隊的現任政務官為主,則其所代表的意涵是,地方政務官的「政黨成分」將會愈來愈重;更重要的是,即將於明年底卸除市長職務的馬主席,似乎也必需學習或是複製「陳前市長」的政治經驗,如果成功\邁向凱達格蘭大道的話,其未來的部會首長也會以原來的地方政務官為主。
單從地方自治的角度來說,當地方政務官身價的也藉此不斷水漲船高時,未嘗不是地方之福,也未嘗不是「有為青年」夢想得以成真的契機;不過,若僅是「特定地方」(如台北市、高雄市、台北縣等)之福,則對地方自治的區域均衡發展來說,卻也將是永遠無法彌補的傷害。或許\,這正是「霸侯現象」崛起之後的隱憂吧!
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備註-本篇短文業在2005.07.19登載為中國時報A15版時論廣場學者專論,該報標題則是「霸侯現象的崛起」,全文經報社編輯修正登載為:
儘管國民黨黨魁選舉已經落幕,且攸關未來二○○八年總統選舉的政黨活動,迄今已有很多政治評論家或媒體工作者予以分析。但本文將提供不同的思考視野,即以地方自治發展的角度,試圖研析首都市長當選國民黨主席之後的可能衝擊。
首先,當台北市長兼任國民黨黨魁之後,所謂的「霸侯現象」將更有機會獲得確認。也就是說,自一九九八年台灣結束精省工程之後,任何擬邁向凱達格蘭大道的國家領袖,或是想要成為朝野最大黨魁的政治菁英,不論出身綠軍抑或藍營者,都必須是曾任台北市長、高雄市長抑或台北縣長等重要「選舉票倉」的百里侯,這將成為台灣政治發展過程的特有現象。
依此觀之,馬當選為國民黨主席並取得問鼎總統寶座的門票之後,今年與明年底縣市長、直轄市長選舉的競爭激烈度,將會獲得加溫,因為各該重要百里侯選舉所決定的,正是「下一代」的綠軍領導人,或是藍軍領袖「接班人」。更精確的說,即使國會席次減半、選區重劃的修憲內容施行之後,立委選舉的重要性還是遠遠不如百里侯選舉,甚至立委選舉必定就是日後百里侯選舉的跳板而已,比起現在的「過水政治」將更為明顯可見,並容易導致台灣有意無意成為「重行政、輕立法」的特殊國度,這則是我們必須注意的政經風險。
其次,兼任國民黨主席的首都市長,由於依法可以列席行政院會議的關係,就會形成在野黨領袖直接參與行政院會議的奇特現象,使得執政黨的重要決策均必須與在野黨主席「共同決定」。然而,此處的「共同決定」卻更有可能是將「朝野對決」的場所,從原先立法院議場的質詢、辯論與表決移轉至行政院會之內,例如「謝長廷閣揆VS.馬英九市長(馬主席)」的電視轉播畫面,如全面被解讀為「朝野對決」的話,將無助於朝野政黨的「共生和解」,除非謝、馬兩人均能夠自我抑制彼此的不同論點,順利將「朝野對決」轉為「朝野共治」。
另值得注意的是,當台北市長兼任國民黨主席之後,直轄市長的政治地位將再度獲得提升(尤其是台北市),則長久以來,台灣所謂「重直轄市、輕視縣市、無視鄉鎮市」的地方自治發展生態,並不會因此有所轉變,反而還會貽害更深,進而使國家資源(如統籌分配稅款)更是集中在直轄市或大型縣市的身上,反無助於「區域發展」的均衡,除非新的行政區劃能夠重新展開。
除此之外,當台北市長兼任國民黨黨魁之後,或許\國民黨的重要幹部也將以馬團隊的現任政務官為主,則其所代表的意涵是,地方政務官的「政黨成分」將會愈來愈重;更重要的是,即將於明年底卸除市長職務的馬主席,似乎也必須學習或是複製「陳前市長」的政治經驗,如果成功\邁向凱達格蘭大道的話,其未來的部會首長也會以原來的地方政務官為主。
單從地方自治的角度來說,當地方政務官身價的也藉此不斷水漲船高時,未嘗不是地方之福,也未嘗不是「有為青年」夢想得以成真的契機;不過,若僅是「特定地方」(如台北市、高雄市、台北縣等)之福,則對地方自治的區域均衡發展來說,卻也將是永遠無法彌補的傷害。或許\,這正是「霸侯現象」崛起之後的隱憂吧!(作者陳朝建為銘傳大學公共事務學系暨研究所專任助理教授)
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本篇的英文版標題為Center sees an injection from local government,復另登載於Taipei Times/Friday, Jul 22, 2005,Page 8.
With the conclusion of the Chinese Nationalist Party\'s (KMT) chairmanship election, commentators and journalists have begun providing extensive speculation on the 2008 presidential race. I, however, would like to consider Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou\'s (馬英九) election as KMT chairman from the point of view of local government.
Now that Ma is to hold both positions, he will be more likely to be accepted as supreme leader of the pan-blue camp. Following the central government\'s decision to downsize the provincial government in 1998, any political figures coveting the presidency or seeking the chairmanship of a political party had to have served either as Taipei mayor, Kaohsiung mayor or Taipei County commissioner -- for these constituencies are rich sources of votes. So Ma is now emerging as a formidable presidential hopeful.
On the other side, the year-end mayoral and county commissioner elections and next year\'s mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung are sure to grow increasingly intense, as they will determine the next green-camp presidential candidate.
Even with the total number of seats in the legislature halved and the redrawing of electoral districts, the legislative elections will still be far less significant than the mayoral and county commissioner elections.
The legislative elections are merely a springboard for those contending for mayoral and county commissioner elections. As a result, the government will focus on administrative affairs rather than upholding the importance of the lawmaking body.
Ma, as Taipei mayor, will continue to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting. But now we have a situation in which the chairman of an opposition party can directly participate in the processes of the Executive Yuan and put pressure on the government to craft policies with his stamp on them. Under these circumstances, room opens up for more confrontation between the government and the opposition.
Furthermore, a legislature-style question-and-answer session could take shape in Cabinet meetings. If this happens, it is not going to help Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) with his plan to reconcile with the opposition party, unless both Hsieh and Ma can put aside their differences and cooperate.
What is also noteworthy is that with the Taipei mayor about to double as KMT chairman, the status of the special municipalities will be enhanced once again -- Taipei in particular. Over the years, the central government has sought to nurture special municipalities such as Taipei and Kaohsiung, and has taken less notice of other cities and counties, even ignoring the development of villages and townships throughout the country.
What\'s worse, national resources -- including the tax redistribution fund -- will be allocated increasingly to the special municipalities or larger counties. Such a policy will not lead to balanced development across different regions.
After taking up the KMT chairmanship, Ma will probably seek to appoint his officials in Taipei to high-ranking positions in the KMT, suggesting that local government officials will begin to play an active role in the operations of the party.
From the point of view of local government autonomy, it is a good thing to see these officials given a chance to serve at higher levels.
However, if such promotions only apply to more influential administrative regions such as Taipei City, Kaohsiung City and Taipei County, it will only result in a negative effect on regional development. (TRANSLATED BY DANIEL CHENG)
Chen Chao-chien is an assistant professor at the department of public affairs at Ming Chuan University.
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