Opposition lawmakers yesterday threatened to boycott nominees for Examination Yuan leadership positions if the Presidential Office fails to reveal its choices in the coming week.
Saying the incumbent legislative session soon ends, they accused President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of dragging out the appointments to deny the legislature enough time to confirm the candidates.
KMT lawmaker Huang Teh-fu (黃德福) said he and several colleagues are considering issuing an ultimatum that requires Chen to disclose his choices for Examination Yuan president, vice president and 19 members by May 15.
He painted Chen's inaction as disregard for the lawmaking body in violation of the constitutional system of checks and balances.
Though the six-year term of sitting Examination Yuan heads will not expire until the end of August, the confirmation must take place before the legislature recesses for the summer.
"If Chen keeps concealing his intentions on the matter, we will not rule out boycotting the confirmation session," Huang said.
He added that the Presidential Office has postponed turning over the list of nominees from early April to late April, and then until early May.
"But today, we have still not seen the roster," Huang said. "The repeated delay is apparently aimed at compressing the time available for the confirmation process."
Fellow lawmakers Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) and Huang Chou-shun (黃昭順) both expressed support for the proposed boycott.
The current legislative session is due to conclude at the end of this month but lawmakers will most likely extend it.
PFP legislative leader Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠), who earlier advised Chen to name a female candidate to steer the body, said her caucus would join the boycott when asked to do so.
"It is conniving on the part of the Presidential Office to drag out the nominations," Chin said. "The legislature will not turn a blind eye to this delaying tactic."
It takes an absolute majority of lawmakers to confirm the Examination Yuan officials whose responsibility is to oversee the civil service system and all examination-related matters.
According to Presidential Spokesman Huang Chih-feng (黃志芳), Chen will announce the nominees after holding more discussions with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).
DPP legislative whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said that whoever wins the nominations can expect a tough ride during the confirmation, given the party's lack of majority control in the legislature.
Chen had earlier signaled he would name former premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
In early April, Chang divorced his long-estranged wife and married his mistress.
"No one is perfect," Ker said. "Even if a priest is awarded the nomination, critics may find him out of touch with the real world."
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