The KMT Central Standing Committee yesterday warned that party members in the new DPP-led Cabinet should not disobey the party's own guidelines while serving in the new administration, warning they would face punishment according to the KMT's own constitution and related guidelines.
A total of 15 KMT members, including Premier-designate Tang Fei (
Tang has so far been treated with courtesy by the KMT, which agrees to his appointment to lead the Cabinet as an individual and not as a party member. Tang has also agreed to suspend his participation in all KMT-related activities. Other KMT members in the Cabinet, however, were forced to adopt more severe standards to take up their posts.
The KMT's decision yesterday came in the form of three general principles to be used in handling cases involving their own members serving in President-elect Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) new government.
First, KMT members should agree to "personally" serve in the so-called "people's government," so that the KMT is under no obligation to endorse the cabinet's policies.
At the same time, the KMT's legislative caucus should strengthen its ability to supervise and control the new government.
Secondly, KMT members will not be allowed to participate in party-related activities after their nomination to Chen's Cabinet.
Such party members, however, must at the same time abide by the terms of the KMT's constitution. If KMT officials promote any policies which contradict the KMT's constitution or party platforms, they will be dealt with according to the party's regulations.
According to the KMT's constitution, members who disobey the party's principles, constitution, platforms, policies or decisions, or who are identified as violating the party's discipline, will be liable for a penalty.
Penalties include a cessation of their party-related responsibilities, suspension of party-related privileges, revocation of party membership, or, at maximum, expulsion from the party.
As to whether or not the 15 KMT Cabinet officials should explain their actions at the KMT legislative caucus meetings, however, the Central Standing Committee declined to comment.
Instead, it has been left to the legislative caucus to decide how to proceed with rules regarding the administration's responsibilities to the legislature.
The Central Standing Committee did not, as had been expected, discuss the controversial issue of the ongoing construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, despite the fact Taipei City Governor Ma Ying-jeou (
KMT officials, however, appeared to disagree with DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung's (
"Since there is no cheaper substitute for nuclear power, the new government should continue building the nuclear plant due to the practical needs of electric power," said Central Policy Committee chief Hung Yu-chin(
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