The Central Personnel Administration (CPA) offered contradictory stories yesterday over its stance on creating five politically appointed councilor positions in each agency under the Executive Yuan after the initiative drew fire from lawmakers.
In a press statement yesterday, the CPA dismissed local media reports that said it planned to create five posts at each Cabinet-level agency to give Cabinet members more leeway in selecting their subordinates, adding that such a proposal had not been finalized.
However, on Saturday at a forum organized by National Chengchi University’s Center for Public and Business Administration Education on revitalizing the nation’s civil servant system, CPA Minister Chen Ching-hsiou (陳清秀) made just this suggestion.
In his speech, Chen said the agency had suggested that the Ministry of Civil Service include the idea in a draft legislation to be introduced by the Examination Yuan.
Chen told the forum that he would like to see 110 posts created — five for each agency under the Executive Yuan after the number of agencies is downsized to 22 from the current 37, as outlined in the Executive Yuan’s proposal to streamline the government structure.
Chen said that expanding the number of positions of politically appointed officials is “a tendency in a democracy” as it can “help build democratic politics and increase a government’s governing ability.”
The Examination Yuan appeared to disagree with the CPA as the draft bill did not include the creation of the new posts as suggested by the Ministry of Civil Service.
Examination Yuan Secretary-General Lin Shui-chi (林水吉) said yesterday that the Examination Yuan would seek consensus on the issue.
The CPA denied its position after lawmakers across party lines voiced opposition to the plan and leveled harsh criticism against Chen.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wu Ching-chih (吳清池) said it would be inappropriate for the government to increase government personnel during an economic downturn, while KMT Legislator Lee Hong-chun (李鴻鈞) said Chen was not qualified for the Cabinet job.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) said Chen appeared to be out of touch with the public because during hard times, people wanted the government to tighten its purse strings.
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