Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday expressed anger in response to repeated criticism from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators of the Cabinet's decision not to raise fuel prices.
Approached for comment outside the legislature, the premier said that the task of setting fuel prices was not as simple for him as it was for the Ministry of Economic Affairs or CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油).
Chang said he had decided to maintain fuel prices at current levels out of consideration for the public and "overall national and economic development."
"I wonder whether the people who are attacking me now would be able to face the public if I did decide not to intervene and allowed commodity prices to soar," he said.
"Frankly speaking, they [KMT legislators] would not say directly whether they were in favor of a price hike when I asked them during legislative interpellation sessions. I despise them [as a result]," Chang said.
Chang and other Cabinet officials had been criticized by KMT legislators during a question-and-answer session over the Cabinet's decision to maintain fuel prices at current levels until the new government assumes office on May 20.
The Executive Yuan said on March 24 that the state-run CPC Corp, Taiwan, would maintain fuel prices at current levels until the new president is sworn in on May 20. KMT legislators have argued that, by postponing inevitable fuel price increases, the Cabinet is creating "an awful mess" for the next government.
CPC competitor Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) raised its fuel prices on Saturday.
Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) on Monday told the legislature's Economics Committee that the ministry would "strongly recommend" to the Executive Yuan that it agree to increase oil prices at an appropriate time.
However, the Cabinet said on Monday that it had no plans to increase fuel prices - despite the ministry's recommendation.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary-General Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) dismissed speculation that Steve Chen may lose his job for voicing support for a fuel price increase.
"The minister presented a report on the influence of the losses incurred by CPC Corp, Taiwan [as a result of government intervention]. I respect the minister's professional opinion [on the matter]," Chen Chin-jun said.
He said the minister should be allowed to express his opinions based on his expertise.
"The Cabinet has its own administrative concerns," Chen Chin-jun said.
In related developments, Chang completed the final legislative interpellation session of his term as premier yesterday.
During his address, he urged the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party to work together to improve people's standard of living.
Chang also praised the public for the calm response to the presidential election.
"I believe we have demonstrated what a mature democracy we are. This is a victory for both democracy and the Taiwanese people," he said.
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