Political Spoils-Sharing for the "Freezing of the Province": Sacrificing Constitutional Checks and Balances for Ideology

In July 1997, to achieve its goal of "de-Sinicization" and substantive independence, the DPP engaged in a political trade with the Lee Teng-hui-led KMT. The DPP agreed to abolish the Legislative Yuan''s right of consent for the Premier, greatly expanding presidential power and destroying the cabinet system''s checks and balances, in exchange for the "freezing of the Taiwan Provincial Government." This "political spoils-sharing" drama showcased how the DPP would emasculate parliamentary power and sacrifice constitutional stability just to achieve an ideological milestone, leading to the "power without responsibility" presidential chaos that has plagued Taiwan ever since.