Yao gets nod from Chen, battle looms

After the Presidential Office declared his candidacy to lead the Examination Yuan yesterday, senior presidential adviser Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) immediately swung into action to overcome resistance to his nomination.

Paying a visit to the legislature yesterday, Yao, a former DPP chairman, pledged to quit all party activities if confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office vowed to spare no effort in helping Yao achieve confirmation and denied allegations that there are alternative candidates if his nomination fails.

Yesterday morning, Presidential Secretary-General Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) published the list of nominees for open Examination Yuan posts, two Grand Justice posts and four Control Yuan member positions.

As expected, Yao was nominated to take the helm of the Examination Yuan with former interior minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅) to serve as his deputy.

All 27 candidates must be confirmed by the legislature as stipulated by the Constitution.

Chen said the press had been unfair in portraying Yao as a diehard advocate of Taiwanese independence, while ignoring his contributions to the country's democratic progress.

"Yao's pro-independence stance should not be considered a liability, or all DPP members would be disqualified from public office," Chen said.

The top presidential aide praised Yao as the best choice to head the Examination Yuan and asserted that contrary to widespread speculation, there is no "substitute candidate."

It is said that if Yao is voted down, Huang Kun-hui (黃昆輝), another senior adviser to the president, would be awarded the nomination. Huang, who retains close ties with former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), is described by the TSU as more suitable for the job.

But Chen emphasized that the Presidential Office would put up an aggressive campaign to help Yao win confirmation.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), he added, would hold a tea party later this week to shore up support for Yao and the other nominees.

To that end, the president met with party leaders Monday afternoon in the hope of drawing up an effective campaign strategy. It is believed that a dozen uncommitted lawmakers would play a decisive role in the vote.

Soon after securing the nomination, Yao called on Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) in a show of respect for the body.

He urged all caucuses to set aside partisan concerns when weighing Yao's qualifications and promised to withdraw from DPP activities if the legislature gives the green light to his appointment.

Opposition lawmakers have threatened to vote him down for political reasons.

Seeking to avoid controversy, the 64-year-old said he agreed to back a TSU sponsored referendum law, but hesitated to link the legislation to the party's crusade to promote Taiwanese independence.

"I have long endorsed such a bill to embody the democratic principle that power resides with the people," Yao said. "As for its implementation, I would fully respect the wisdom of the DPP caucus."

The ruling party has frowned on the legislation for fear it might endanger political stability.

"There is no need to vote on Taiwan's sovereignty, as it has been accomplished. Rather, such a law may be used to settle disputes over public policies," Yao said.