The upcoming presidential election in January 2016 may be marked down in history as the dullest elections to date.

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party will win this year’s elections lying down. The Kuomintang (KMT), the ruling party for the past eight years, has lost all of its will to fight. And the People’s First Party lacks any enthusiasm in its campaigning.

DPP members have latched onto KMT vice presidential candidate Wang Ju-hsuan’s suspected usage of properties she owned for real estate speculation. Wang had gone to file a defamation suit last week.

DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen, who has repeatedly called for clean elections, has done nothing to prevent the recent lambasting of Wang — she even called for Wang to come clean as well. The KMT has been pummeled to the point they cannot form any comebacks, other than standing aside and going with the flow.

The online media, which only cares for views and shares, have also succumbed to reporting on the scandal surrounding the KMT vice presidential candidate, effectively throwing an important responsibility of the media to the wind — inspection of the presidential candidates.

By only concentrating on the vice presidential candidates, the side dishes so to speak, and disregarding the big fish — presidential candidates Tsai, KMT’s Eric Chu and PFP’s James Soong — the entire point of the elections has gone out of focus, and out of bounds.

Instead, presidential candidates do not need to announce their own campaign policy platforms, or clearly explain to voters the national policies they plan to implement once they are in office. They just have to show up at election rallies and make snide comments toward rivals.

Currently, the only platform where all the candidates can suitably inform the masses of their stances on key issues is through a TV debate.

Yet, negotiations are still deadlocked due to candidates’ preferences on the hosting media, with both sides unwilling to compromise. Tsai has set her heart on Sanlih Entertainment Television, while Chu wishes to see the debate hosted by the Taiwan Public Television Service and the four biggest local newspapers in Taiwan.

The debate is considered the climax in the presidential elections — a pivotal moment for voters, the media and campaigning rivals to focus upon the candidates — they shouldn’t nitpick or deliberately sidestep discussing it.

Should any of the candidates have anything against the hosting media, an united debate platform that encompasses all mainstream media could be negotiated to avoid concerns on a media outlet’s political position, or let each mainstream media outlet take turns hosting a debate. Either would be suitable to address voters.

Time is running out — the candidates, media and Central Election Commission cannot continue their tactics in ambiguity. Smoothing out the televised debates discussions should be carried out for voters to have the chance to inspect the candidates with a critical eye.

The media should also avoid being jerked around by politicians and put their collective foot down on their stance, regaining their “fourth power” by actively setting the debate stage.

This round of voting is for the presidents, not for the vice president — we are choosing the “brains” to lead the country, not the “appendix.”

By Tom Hsieh

Tom Hsieh is the executive editor of the China Post in Taiwan. — Ed.

(Asia News Network)