Though the Executive Yuan has provided a list of 18 pieces of legislation it would like lawmakers to take up during their special session, the Cabinet may not get everything on its wish list.
Six items dealing with the reform of the nation's financial industry -- the reason for holding the special session -- are not likely to encounter any resistance from opposition lawmakers.
But another 12 items sent to legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Four of these 12 bills involve legislation in which there remain inter-party differences left to be ironed out and debated in committee meetings.
One bill covers the Cabinet's proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and Statute for the Punishment of Corruption (貪污治罪條例), which softens language as to what constitutes corruption among civil servants. The amendment is meant to create less red tape among government workers, allowing them to more freely do their jobs.
Wang, who spoke with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) over the phone about the problem yesterday, said he has asked the Executive Yuan to talk with opposition lawmakers.
Wang also said he wouldn't hold any inter-party negotiations on the special session until the legislature receives President Chen Shui-bian's (
Opposition lawmakers said yesterday that the Cabinet, by including the additional pieces of legislation, was trying to complicate the special session. "The list put forth by the Executive Yuan will only trigger more quarrels among lawmakers," said KMT legislative caucus whip Lee Cheng-chong (李正宗).
Lee said because the Cabinet had asked for the special session based upon the urgent need to pass the six financial bills, it shouldn't have added other items unrelated to economic development.
New Party convener Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大) said the Cabinet's move would undermine the seriousness of the session, normally reserved for special purposes. "The Executive Yuan is now treating the provisional session as if it is an extension of the legislature's scheduled session," he said.
After the legislature ended its regular session last Wednesday with a number of bills remaining unresolved, the Cabinet asked that it reconvene to pass the six financial bills.
The Executive Yuan had argued that the bills were crucial to the reform of the nation's financial system and revival of the economy.
On Monday, opposition lawmakers agreed to the proposal, on the condition that -- for constitutional reasons -- the session be held at the request of the president.
The date of the session has yet to be determined.
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