The KMT yesterday accused the DPP of using Executive Yuan adviser positions as political bribes, saying that the number of such positions has tripled since the DPP came to power.
Cabinet officials, however, quickly moved to reject the accusation, saying the figures cited by the KMT were mistaken.
The KMT criticism comes just days after Premier Yu Shyi-kun appointed 22 new advisers. Most of the positions were filled with DPP supporters and many went to people from Ilan County, where Yu grew up.
According to KMT Spokesman Wu Ching-ji (
Wu said although the posts are unpaid, they undoubtedly are an honor offered by the country and should not be given away at random.
"The DPP, by giving away such an honor as a favor to its allies, is engaging in some kind of back-scratching, political bribery," Wu said.
Wu said that people who hold the positions usually enjoy direct or indirect influence on society. Under those circumstances, the Executive Yuan should take into account the social creditability and moral reputation of the candidates when appointing its advisers, Wu said.
Executive Yuan Spokesman Chuang Suo-hang (
Chuang said the advisers appointed by the Executive Yuan include members of all fields and political parties and that their duty is to provide suggestions and give advice to the government.
It is impossible that such a position would be given to someone as a favor, Chuang said, adding that the KMT's figures were incorrect.
Official statistics indicate that the number of advisers to the Executive Yuan was 84 in February 2000, a few months before the DPP took power, according to Chuang.
While the DPP government continued to appoint most of the advisers designated by the former KMT government, Premier Yu has only appointed an additional 22 advisers since he took office in February this year, Chuang said.
The total number of advisers to the Executive Yuan is 141 at present, not 167 as alleged by the KMT, he said.
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