Taiwan Lawmakers Approve Resolution To Halve Number Of Parliamentary Seats

TAIPEI, Aug 23 (AFP) - Taiwan`s lawmakers Monday approved a resolution to cut the number of seats in parliament, paving the way for a constitutional amendment that would see the number of national legislators halved.
The amendment to cut the number of seats from 225 to 113, billed as a move to improve government efficiency, is expected to be passed by the National Assembly next year and is scheduled to take effect in 2007.
Parliament voted 200-1 to endorse the resolution, which observers said almost no lawmakers dared reject ahead of December parliamentary elections where political reform is expected to be a key issue.
"We support it without any condition," James Soong, head of the opposition People First Party (PFP), told reporters ahead of the vote.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) dominates parliament with 81 seats while its alliance partner Taiwan Solidarity Union has 12 seats.
The leading oppositions Kuomintang (KMT) and the PFP jointly control 112 seats.