Taiwan's fight over the premier's refusal to countersign a law has turned into a constitutional standoff, with a veteran opposition-turned-elder statesman saying both sides are in the wrong and should cut a deal.

• Former DPP chairman Hsu Hsin-liang said the cabinet has no right to use the countersignature power to block parliament's decisions — that power aims at the president, not the legislature.
• He also said the KMT-led legislature broke the constitution first, by pushing bills that raise government spending or cut revenue without limit.
• Under the French-style system Taiwan copied in the 1990s, he argued, parliament cannot even propose such bills, and setting rules for how many top judges must sit is beyond its power too.
• With amending the constitution nearly impossible, he wants the parties to strike a grand bargain like the 1990 national affairs conference, such as letting the opposition name most members of a new constitutional review body.
• He rejected giving the legislature veto power over the premier, saying that would turn the elected president into a figurehead.

Outlook: Expect the deadlock to continue, since neither side has signalled willingness to negotiate a package deal.