Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and KMT legislators yesterday called on members of the incoming Cabinet to respect the KMT and cooperate with legislators to carry out policies immediately after the transfer of power on May 20.
Addressing a luncheon of new Cabinet members and KMT legislators, Wu said the KMT would not return to one-party autocracy after president-elect Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) inauguration, but reminded Cabinet members to stick to the party’s mission and policies.
“Great performance by Cabinet members will be an asset for the KMT, but we also need to bear the consequences if we perform poorly. I urge the Cabinet to perform well after assuming office,” Wu said yesterday during a meeting at KMT headquarters.
Wu called on non-KMT Cabinet members to have a better understanding of the party’s regulations and policies, and to seek common ground and goals for better cooperation.
“Election victories and carrying out party’s goals are the essence of party politics ... I am trying to break the old one-party autocracy stereotype, but it doesn’t mean that you can forget about the party,” Wu said.
Wu said the KMT would serve as a negotiation platform between the Cabinet and the legislature. Through a three-level communication channel convened by the KMT’s policy commission, eight legislative committees and Ma, the Cabinet would likely be more effective and perform well with the help and support of the KMT and its legislators, Wu said.
Leading more than 60 KMT legislators at the luncheon, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said a negotiation platform was necessary for better cooperation between the Cabinet and the legislature, adding that the Cabinet should explain the content of major drafts or budget bills to party legislators and seek consensus before sending them for review in the Legislative Yuan.
Premier-designate Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said he and his Cabinet members were drawing up plans that would have an impact on living standards and would present comprehensive measures to address utility prices, the implementation of cross-strait weekend charter flights scheduled for July 4 and the re-allocation of the general budget after May 20.
Liu promised to improve communication with the legislature after assuming office.
“The legislature and the Cabinet are like the two wings of a bird and we should cooperate closely to carry out policies and take care of the public,” he said.
While expressing support for the incoming Cabinet members, several KMT legislators complained about Ma and Liu’s disrespect for the KMT and the legislature by appointing non-party Cabinet members and challenged Mainland Affairs Council chairwoman-designate Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛), a Taiwan Solidarity Union member, over her background and her qualifications to realize Ma’s cross-strait policies.
“Some Cabinet members campaigned against us during the elections, but the KMT was forgiving. We expect government officials to do a good job and as legislators we will examine your performance closely,” KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進) said.
KMT Legislator Chi Kuo-tung (紀國棟) joined Lee in urging Lai and other Cabinet members not to ignore the contributions of party legislators during the presidential election.
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