Print

Mail

wiki links

KMT accuses DPP of working outside the Constitution

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday called unconstitutional the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) invitation to Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) to head the DPP's reform taskforce.

At a press conference in the legislature, KMT Legislator Lin Te-fu (林德福), who also doubles as caucus deputy secretary-general, urged Yao to reconsider his decision to accept the position.

"Article 88 of the Constitution stipulates that all members of the Examination Yuan should remain neutral from the influence of party lines," Lin told a press conference.

As president of the Examination Yuan, you [Yao] should be more neutral and impartial," Lin said.

The DPP's Central Standing Committee on Wednesday invited Yao, a DPP member, to lead the party's reform team.

KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春), who was also at the conference yesterday, said that on several occasions Yao had criticized the legislature for abusing its powers and undermining the Examination Yuan's independence, such as when the legislature slashed or froze the budget requests of the Examination Yuan and its subsidiaries.

"Since Yao understands that the Examination Yuan is an independent organization, as the head of such an independent government agency he should have a clear idea of where the boundaries are," she said.

At a separate setting yesterday, Yao said he was not taking the post, but would instead simply provide assistance as the taskforce gathers opinions.

Yao said that as he is not a member of the Examination Yuan committee, he did not have to abide by the Constitutional provision that members of the Examination Yuan committee remain neutral.

The neutrality act has yet to pass the legislature, which means that there is no law preventing him from involvement in political party functions, he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
This story has been viewed 1227 times.