Chen Shui Bian

The opposition Nationalist Party won an overwhelming victory Saturday in closely watched Taiwanese legislative elections widely seen as a preview of March's presidential contest. The results were viewed as a vote of no confidence in the administration of President Chen Shui-bian, who has alienated many voters with his contentious style and policy reversals during a period of disappointing economic growth and increased tensions with Beijing.

A few yards from the four-room house where President Chen Shui-bian grew up, a life-size cutout leans against a wall. Tourists used to arrive in droves and have their photo taken with the "president," earning neighbors a steady income. These days the visitors are largely gone, the prop weather-worn and seemingly forgotten. "We haven't had any real business in years," said Chen, a 60-year-old retiree and distant relative with silver teeth and a pink shirt, who declined to give her first name.

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian resigned from the opposition party Friday after Swiss authorities requested help in an investigation of suspected money laundering involving his family members. Taiwan's Justice Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday that its Swiss counterpart wanted information on Chen's son, Chen Chih-chung, and daughter-in-law, Huang Jui-ching. The island's authorities said they were cooperating with the inquiry.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian faced growing pressure today from an opposition campaign to recall him because of allegations of corruption against his family and former aides. The legislature held a special session Tuesday to start a long, complex process to oust Chen, who has served for six years and has two left in his second term. He has repeatedly denied the graft allegations.

Thousands of people waved flags and blew air horns at a street rally in Taipei to support President Chen Shui-bian, but the demonstration was smaller than one held a week ago by opposition leaders seeking to oust Chen over allegations that his family is involved in corruption. Police estimated that 13,000 people took part in the event in front of the Presidential Office, compared with the 20,000 at the opposition protest last weekend.

Lawmakers in Taiwan's ruling party boycotted the start of a debate today on a proposal to hold a referendum on ousting President Chen Shui-bian because of alleged family corruption and incompetence. "We want the people to see how ridiculous this recall motion is," said Lai Ching-teh, a legislator with the president's Democratic Progressive Party. But opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou went on television and urged the ruling party to stand on the side of justice and clean government.

The young farm boy studies diligently, becomes a lawyer and is eventually elected president of his country. But that's where this Abraham Lincoln story ends. In this version, scandal grips his administration. The legislature succumbs to near-paralysis, opponents call for his resignation, and voters grow disillusioned with the political process. Beleaguered Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian is fighting for his political life, reputation and legacy.

Taiwan's opposition launched a final weekend of protests to recall President Chen Shui-bian, just days before a legislative vote on whether to hold a referendum to sack Chen over allegations that his family is corrupt. About 6,000 people gathered in the southern city of Kaohsiung. Police put up barbed wire around the protest site and mobilized 2,000 officers. Chen supporters drove near the site in trucks with loudspeakers.

Hundreds of thousands of chanting protesters marched through downtown Taipei, capping a week of demonstrations to pressure Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to resign over corruption scandals. A police estimate put the crowd at 320,000; organizers said a million people took part. Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, the head of the opposition Nationalist Party, said the march was the second-largest political demonstration in Taipei history.

For the last two weeks, Wang Jin-mei has joined scores of other protesters on a daily pilgrimage to the president's office or the Taipei railway station to vent her anger at President Chen Shui-bian. Demonstrations and mass rallies have taken place around the island in recent days, some leading to scuffles between supporters and opponents of the beleaguered president.