Examination Yuan President John Kuan (關中) yesterday expressed disapproval of Premier Wu Den-yih’s (吳敦義) inconsistencies regarding the national health insurance (NHI) reform plan.
A politician in a position like Wu’s should weigh his opinions and take into consideration how his remarks would be perceived by the public before making any public comments, Kuan said when approached by reporters for comment on whether Wu’s recent rhetoric was an example of what the draft political appointees act aimed to eliminate.
The draft act, approved by the Legislative Yuan’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes -Committee on Monday, proposes that political appointees who make major policy errors or gaffes that hurt the public interest be forced out of office.
Should it be enacted, appointees engaged in behavior or who use language that damages the government’s image, or who can not achieve an expected duty or carry out a political commitment based on available evidence, could be dismissed.
The controversy stemmed from a press release issued by the Government Information Office on Sunday which said Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yi-shih (林益世) correctly conveyed the conclusions reached at a meeting between Wu and pan-blue lawmakers on Thursday night -regarding the government’s position on the NHI reform plan.
The press release came after Wu changed his position on the issue several times earlier that same day.
On Sunday morning, Wu said that many people spoke against the government’s position on NHI reform because Lin had relayed an incorrect message. Later that afternoon, Wu said it was KMT Legislator Yang Li-huan (楊麗環) who gave the wrong message and not Lin.
On Monday, Wu told reporters that he never said that Lin was wrong to convey information on the meeting.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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