Examination Yuan nears extinction

Lawmakers of all stripes weighed in yesterday for the upcoming shuffle for leadership positions in the Examination Yuan, as some proposed scrapping the institution and others urged an open ballot when the legislature confirms the nominees.

The body, responsible for the civil service system and all examination-related matters, is due to undergo a facelift before its current chief and 17 members' six-year terms expire at the end of August.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will soon disclose his appointees, who must be confirmed by the legislature before taking office.

KMT legislative leaders Cheng Feng-shih (鄭逢時) and Lin Yi-shih (林益世) said they would seek to abolish both the Examination and the Control Yuan through constitutional reforms that would favor a three-branch government.

Lin said he found the ongoing spat over who should head the Examination Yuan unpalatable and suggested doing away with the organ, along with the Control Yuan, to make the government more efficient.

The Presidential Office has signaled that it would name former premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) to take the helm of the Examination Yuan. This has led some to view Chang's recent divorce as a move aimed at removing potential resistance to his appointment, because he had been involved in an extramarital relationship for decades.

Echoing Lin's proposal to scrap the bodies, Cheng compared the Examination and Control Yuans to human appendixes that have no use except for maintaining "the practice of patronage."

Cheng said that it costs NT$17.3 billion each year to pay the salaries of the two institutions' officials, whose responsibilities greatly overlap with that of the Cabinet's personnel department and the Judicial Yuan.

Aware that it would take a constitutional reform to realize their proposal, the two KMT lawmakers said they would first seek to persuade their caucus before putting the matter to the legislature.

DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh (王拓), who has published many articles to advocate a three-branch political system, said he would give his full support to the bill if it is introduced.

"I welcome the proposal," Wang said. "I'm glad that more KMT colleagues are now brave enough to air their views on the issue after the transfer of power."

As the legislature will recess for the summer, the caucuses expect to hold the confirmation session in May or June, pending cross-party talks after the Presidential Office would have filed its request.

James Chen (陳健治), KMT lawmaker and head of the party's organization department, said his party would favor the re-appointment of sitting Examination President Hsu Shui-teh (許水德).

He predicted that Chang, now a senior advisor to the president, will have difficulty securing approval from opposition lawmakers given the controversy in the wake of his divorce.

TSU legislator Lin Chih-lung (林志隆) agreed, saying that it is not a bad idea to retain Hsu, who retains warm ties with former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), his party's spiritual leader.

But TSU legislative whip Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) dismissed Lin's comment as "purely personal." He said his party would stay united and endorse the same candidate when it comes time to take a stand.

"Chances are we'll side with the ruling party as we did during the election of the vice legislative speaker on Feb.1," Lo said.

Meanwhile, PFP lawmaker Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠) called on President Chen to name a woman candidate, saying neither Chang nor Hsu is fit for the job.

Arguing that the position should go to someone without partisan affiliations, Chin recommended that former interior minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅) should be given the office.

The PFP legislative leader also suggested that an open ballot be adopted during the confirmation process to avoid partisan bickering on the legislative floor over questionable practices, such as whether voters may be forced to display their ballots.