KMT lawmakers expressed their resentment yesterday at 15 grand justice candidates for their refusal to reply to a KMT questionnaire by Aug. 15.
The lawmakers voiced their dissatisfaction when the 15 candidates -- nominated by President Chen Shui-bian (
One of the 15 nominees, incumbent Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
This is the first time that the nominees have been chosen without candidates representing political parties. Therefore, Weng told the legislators, concern for professionalism and the solemnity of the office led the candidates to be extremely cautious.
Presidential Office Secretary General Chiou I-jen (
Still, the nominees' refusal to fill out the questionnaire angered KMT Legislator Kao Yu-jen (高育仁), who led a KMT ad hoc panel to deal with the confirmation of the grand justices.
He warned that the confirmation vote could be delayed for another two weeks because the lawmakers lacked sufficient information about the nominees.
The questionnaire demanded that nominees answer 10 of 30 questions designated by Kao's panel.
In the questionaire, the candidates were asked to elaborate their views on -- among other things -- capital punishment and whether or not they thought the independence/unification debate should be settled through constitutional interpretations.
The nominees were also asked to reveal their thoughts on the constitutionality of holding a referendum in the absence of legislative approval and whether or not the Legislative Yuan should have a say in fee hikes for the National Health Insurance Program.
"The questionnaire was made to help legislators do a better job of confirming the nominees. It complied with laws and was hopefully contributing to the establishment of a transparent mechanism for scrutinizing the nominees," Kao said.
Following the candidates' refusal, Kao told the visitors that the Legislative Yuan could need another two-week extension before holding the confirmation vote. That's because the two weeks scheduled for the confirmation process -- Sept. 5 to Sept. 16 -- might not be enough time for lawmakers to scrutinize the nominees.
But both KMT and PFP legislative leaders played down the possibility of a further delay amid pressure to confirm the judges by Sept. 16 so that they can take up their posts by Oct. 3 -- the official date that current grand justices are supposed to leave office.
However, KMT whip Lee Chia-chin (
"The KMT caucus still expects to receive the questionnaire from nominees before Sept. 5 and only such a response would prove that their courtesy call today was not merely flattery," he said.
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