In response to the proposal that the presidential election next year should be held in conjunction with the legislative elections, Premier Wu Den-yih said yesterday that a final decision will be made by the Central Election Commission by the end of June. But some KMT legislators found the deadline too late, while the DPP questioned the political motives behind the proposed schedule change.

Premier Wu Den-yi said this morning the government would respect Central Election Commission's decision on whether to combine the presidential and legislator elections, which would be made at the end of June.

Since the legislator elections are to be held in December and Presidential elections are held in next March, high-ranking officials from the presidential office and the ruling party intend to combine the elections.

The Central Election Commission is going to hold 5 public hearings before the end of March and solicit opinions from all parties while Ministry of the Interior is going to conduct public polls in March.

However, some KMT lawmakers worry that Central Election Commission's decision in late June would be too late for all the arrangements and hope the answer can be made in April.

DPP lawmakers question the move is simply for election concerns and it might bring the hidden problem of lack of constitional authority.

Ministry of the Interior is planning to push forward absentee voting in the upcoming presidential election.

If the legislator and presidential elections are combined, the election process would be more complicated.

Therefore, the premier said the decision should be made after the commission gives a careful and thorough consideration.