The KMT yesterday adopted a clear stand prohibiting party members from assuming political appointments in the Cabinet in their personal capacity, with the exception of government positions with fixed tenures.
The political appointments refer to ministerial-level positions, some vice ministerial-level positions filled by political appointees and positions of minister without portfolio.
Members violating the principle will be handed over to the party's Committee of Discipline and Evaluation for punishment.
The decision was made at the Central Standing Committee's weekly meeting. KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) said the step is necessary to draw a line between the ruling and opposition parties in order to smooth the operation of party politics.
"In any democracy practicing party politics, the relations between ruling and opposition parties is one of checks and balances," Wu said.
"Therefore, the KMT will play the role of a loyal opposition party and monitor the government's administration so as to make a clear distinction of each other's respective responsibility," he added.
Yesterday's decision substantiated an announcement made by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) soon after the conclusion of the Dec. 1 legislative elections, in which the KMT suffered a severe setback, winning only 68 seats.
Lien had indicated that the party would not join the coalition Cabinet led by the DPP or the "cross-party alliance for national stabilization" proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
In line with the party's long-standing position that the formation of a coalition Cabinet be based on an inter-party agreement, Lien had said that the party would not encourage individual party members to join the Cabinet.
According to the KMT's data, there are five political appointees with KMT membership in the current Cabinet. They include Minister of Finance Yen Ching-chang (顏慶章), Minister of National Defense Wu Shih-wen (伍世文), Veterans' Affairs Commission Chairman Yang Teh-chih (楊德志), Vice Minister of Finance Sean Chen (陳沖) and Chief of the General Staff Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明).
Chen Kang-chin (陳庚金), director-general of the Committee of Discipline and Evaluation, said it will be decided on a case-by-case basis as to what punishment to hand down on party members violating the decision, because a related stipulation is lacking in the party's disciplinary rules.
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