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Examination nominee confirmed

Wu Rong-ming, new vice president of the Examination Yuan, receives congratulations from legislators after his nomination was confirmed, yesterday. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

With the leadership of the pan-blue caucuses at the last minute allowing pan-blue legislators to vote as they wished, former civil service minister Wu Rong-ming (吳容明) was confirmed as the new vice president of the Examination Yuan by the Legislative Yuan yesterday.

One hundred seventy-five legislators supported the appointment -- far more than the 109 required.

Of 217 legislators, only 11 voted against the appointment. There were six invalid votes. Twenty-five legislators did not vote.

The caucuses of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and the alliance of independent lawmakers had earlier expressed their support for Wu's nomination.

The caucuses of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) decided at the last minute to allow their legislators to vote on the issue as they wished.

Wu's appointment had posed a dilemma to the pan-blue caucuses -- especially that of the PFP -- because Wu is a long-time associate of PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

Earlier, the PFP caucus had wanted Wu to decline the post because of the party's contention that President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration is not legitimate.

As a protest against the Chen administration, the PFP caucus had at one time planned to have its caucus leaders abstain from voting on the confirmation, but after Soong hinted two days ago that he did not oppose Wu's appointment, PFP members were allowed to vote as they wished.

PFP caucus deputy convener Sheu Yuan-kuo (許淵國) voted to confirm the appointment -- though caucus whip Hsieh Chang-chieh (謝章捷) chose not to vote.

After the legislature voted to confirm the appointment, Wu expressed his gratitude -- and said that Soong had called to congratulate him.

"I did not expect to get so many votes," Wu said.

Wu expressed gratitude even toward the PFP legislators who did not participate in the voting.

"I would like to thank the legislature for its support and the legislators for their suggestions. I hope to improve the examination system via existing legal procedures," Wu said.
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