Taiwan MPs to present measure to oust president

TAIPEI, June 13 (Reuters) A special session of Taiwan's parliament convenes today for the opposition to present a motion to oust President Chen Shui-bian, turning up the heat over a series of scandals involving his family and former aides.

The motion is unlikely to pass, analysts say, because the opposition -- led by the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang -- lacks the two-thirds required to push it through, despite a slim majority in parliament.

Nevertheless, it deepens a political crisis that has pushed Chen's public approval ratings to record lows.

Opposition lawmakers hope the so-called recall motion will lead to the emergence of evidence of wrongdoing and stiffen anti-Chen sentiment among the public.

The turmoil has weighed on Taiwan's stock and foreign exchange markets. Standard&Poors warned last week that the island's credit fundamentals were being weakened by ''policy paralysis'' brought on by the crisis.

Once it is formally presented, Chen has seven days in which he can respond in writing to the motion, which -- if passed -- would authorise a referendum on whether he should step down.

Chen's son-in-law was detained last month on suspicion of insider trading, and the first lady has been accused of accepting millions of Taiwan dollars of department store gift vouchers.

Analysts have said Chen is unlikely to step down and he has said the opposition is trying to oust him out of resentment over its election losses in 2000 and 2004.

As the pressure for him to resign grew last week, Chen handed some of his powers to Premier Su Tseng-chang.

Parliament will have 15 days to deliberate the issue and can summon witnesses. Taiwan media reports said the entire legislature was expected to review the measure from June 21-23, and then vote on it on June 27.

If the recall measure is rejected, the opposition camp is expected to push for a vote of no confidence against Chen's cabinet when parliament reconvenes in September.

The extraordinary session would also address issues like a measure for flood relief and the state budget, issues Chen's Democratic Progressive Party had wanted to take prominence.

Recent heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides around Taiwan, sweeping away homes, inundating roads and derailing a train.

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