Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday expressed confidence in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ ability to push through President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) nominee for prosecutor-general.
Wang told reporters at the legislature that he believed the KMT caucus would eventually reach a consensus to help the nomination of Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) clear the legislative floor.
The KMT caucus was “obliged” to garner support from legislators for Huang because Huang was nominated by the KMT, Wang said.
Huang was named after former prosecutor-general Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明) resigned following his impeachment by the Control Yuan last week. The government watchdog voted 8-3 to impeach Chen, citing concerns over his “integrity” and “sincerity” when heading the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Panel’s probe into alleged corruption involving the former first family.
The legislature is set to begin the review of the nomination when the spring legislative session convenes on Feb 23.
Legislators agreed to put the nomination to an anonymous vote after the Internal Administration Committee and the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee had completed their joint review of the nomination. The legislature can approve or reject the president’s nominee for prosecutor-general.
Senior KMT officials reached a consensus earlier this week at a Presidential Office meeting that Huang did not need to visit legislators to campaign for their support. Wang said, however, that it would be good for Huang to show respect to the party caucuses at the legislature by visiting them.
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