Yao's pro-independence history may hurt his chances

The planned nomination of Senior Presidential Advisor Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) as Examination Yuan chief drew mixed reviews from lawmakers yesterday, with the ruling camp upholding the choice and the opposition bloc voicing reservations.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is expected to disclose the appointment next month, which must then be confirmed by the legislature. Sources close to Chen signal he favors Yao, former DPP chair and lawmaker, for the post.

DPP legislative leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said he and fellow colleagues would work to remove remove resistance to Yao's appointment once the president makes his intention on the issue known.

"As the ruling party, the DPP will back whoever the president names to the helm of the Examination Yuan," Ker told reporters. But he hesitated to comment on Yao's candidacy, saying the caucus had not yet been told of Chen's decision.

The DPP legislator painted it as "natural" that opposition parties find Yao unsuitable for the job.

"It is only normal for the opposition to frown on a potential nominee. We respect their opinions and will try our best to win their support," Ker said.

It takes an absolute majority of lawmakers to confirm the Examination Yuan president, vice president and 19 members. The six-year term of incumbents is due to expire at the end of August.

Earlier in the day, KMT legislative leader Cheng Feng-shih (鄭逢時) warned President Chen to think twice about appointing Yao, a die-hard advocate of Taiwanese independence.

"The Examination Yuan, responsible for the civil service system and all examination-related matters, should be headed by someone without political connections," Cheng said.

Fellow KMT lawmaker Shyu Jong-shyong (徐中雄) agreed, citing an opinion poll showing that 70 percent of the public want to abolish the Examination Yuan, whose duties overlap with that of the Cabinet's Central Personnel Administration.

He added that 63 percent of respondents don't even know what Examination Yuan members are doing and consider their monthly salary of NT$180,000 too high.

It will take a constitutional amendment to do away with the institution. Though saying it favors a three-branch government, the main opposition KMT has not taken any action to that end.

PFP legislative whip Diane Lee (李慶安) said it was up to the president to decide whom to award the nomination and that her party would not recommend a candidate.

Earlier, some PFP members openly called on Chen to give the job to former interior minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅), a politically independent female politician.

Recently, others have argued that former vice premier Lai In-jaw (賴英照), known for his close ties with PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), would be a better choice.

Lee declined to comment on potential candidates for fear such action may be seen as seeking to influence Chen's decision.

But she reiterated the wish that the next Examination Yuan chief stay above the partisan fray when carrying out his or her duties.

TSU Secretary-General Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) said his party would back Chen's appointee.

He said the upcoming confirmation process would not trigger a partisan showdown, as the post, while prestigious, is not influential.