KMT lawmakers, who have long championed the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant as Taiwan's only energy solution, yesterday vowed to push the government further on the matter, making clear their intentions to force Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) to step down as a new session of the Legislative Yuan begins today.
KMT lawmakers say that Chang should step down from his post for the government's decision to cancel the plant, thereby taking political responsibility for the decision.
Chang will face questions today from legislators after he delivers an administrative report to the Legislative Yuan.
The ruling DPP announced its decision to scrap the power plant last Oct. 27, but was forced to reverse the policy decision on Feb. 14 under tremendous pressure from an alliance of opposition lawmakers.
"The power plant issue will still be the focus of the interpellation... KMT lawmakers will focus their questioning on the political responsibility [concerning the plant] of related government officials ... as well as the financial losses incurred during the period of interruption," said Hong Yuh-chin (洪玉欽), executive director of the KMT's Policy Committee, who acts as leader of the majority KMT caucus in the legislature.
PFP takes a different stance
While a recent meeting between KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
They said that they would not request the premier step down, but that executive officials should consider why such ideas were gaining momentum in the legislature.
"Relevant officials ought to show themselves to be responsible statesmen and receive punitive measures for the turmoil they created because of their capricious policies," said PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (
Rumors of cabinet shuffle
In addition to the power plant issue, opposition lawmakers said they would focus on possible Cabinet adjustments.
Speculation was rampant yesterday in the Chinese-language media that the Cabinet would undergo a small-scale reshuffle to move around certain officials judged as unfit for their positions.
PFP spokesperson Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) said that the selection of Cabinet members should hinge more on their professional capacity than their willingness to cooperate with the Cabinet over politically sensitive issues.
Hwang said he disagreed with rumors that Cabinet officials would be replaced for holding political views that differed from those of the government.
"I don't think it appropriate to label the officials as "uncooperative" when they are just trying to maintain their professional integrity," he said.
In Hwang's opinion, Cabinet members should have the professional capability to cope with emergencies in today's vacillating political arena.
"Those who should be removed are uncreative officials who only follow the old paths, as well as those who insist on clinging to outdated political ideologies and fail to map out beneficial long-term plans for the country," he added.
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