The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday confirmed that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who doubles as KMT chairman, had asked it to regulate the behavior of the party’s legislators-at-large.
Caucus secretary-general Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) told reporters that the caucus and the KMT’s Policy Research Committee would arrange meetings to communicate party regulations to legislators-at-large.
“Chairman Ma put Secretary-General Chan [Chun-po, 詹春柏] in charge of convening meetings with the legislators-at-large, where he will detail the party’s regulations so that we don’t have to remind them again,” Lu said.
Ma made the decision after presiding over the party’s Chungshan, or leadership, meeting on Tuesday.
KMT officials were scheduled to discuss a proposal by a number of youth wing delegates demanding KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) resign or be relieved of her job as a legislator-at-large for criticizing government policy.
The proposal was forwarded to the meeting after the KMT’s Party Congress failed to reach a consensus on the issue on Sunday.
Party officials told reporters after the Chungshan meeting that Ma also suggested that the caucus give Lo some “advice.”
Lu said the regulations were meant to regulate the behavior of legislators-at-large instead of targeting a specific individual.
Lo said yesterday that she had been a competent KMT lawmaker as she had followed the party’s resolutions and supported the party’s proposals during votes on the legislative floor.
Lo said she did not care whether she continued to serve as a KMT legislator-at-large.
“I only care about what I have done for the public during my term as a lawmaker,” she said, adding that she would continue to “do the right thing.”
KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅), another legislator-at-large, said it was reasonable for the party to regulate the behavior of legislators-at-large.
Chiu said every lawmaker should refrain from making emotional remarks when appearing in public.
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