Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday expressed his disappointment after cross-party negotiations on legislative reforms broke down, dimming hopes that they would be passed before the current legislative session ends tomorrow.
Wang released a statement after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus nixed a proposal to have the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-initiated reform bills placed directly on the legislative agenda for second and third readings, sidestepping the first reading and committee review, so they could clear the floor before tomorrow.
In the statement, Wang said that despite a clear consensus on the direction of reform, such as the Legislative Yuan’s right to investigate and hold hearings, and four cross-caucus negotiations having been called on the matter, it is regrettable that “certain party caucuses” did not agree with the proposal to pass the reform bills before the session ends.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“[My] resolve in enacting reforms will not die although the timing of legislative reform has been delayed by certain parties. I urge all politicians to renounce arrogance, face the people and promise that we will meet their expectations by completing legislative reform-related bills immediately after the ninth legislature is formed,” after the Jan. 16 legislative elections, Wang wrote.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said the party firmly supports legislative reform, but it opposes perfunctory passage of the bills, which should be thoroughly discussed and reviewed by members of the next legislature, who would be representative of new public opinion.
Separately yesterday, Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) dismissed a report by the Chinese-language Next Magazine saying she is to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in her forthcoming trip to China.
Hung said she would meet with Taiwanese businesspeople in Shanghai and attend a religious activity dedicated to Matsu (媽祖) and a seminar on cross-strait marriage in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, after her arrival in China on Dec. 19.
The latest issue of the magazine, which came out yesterday, claimed that a Taiwanese businessperson had arranged for Hung to meet Xi.
“This is nonsense,” Hung said. “You do not even need to think with your brain, just your toes, to know [that is not possible].”
“I would love to know this high and mighty Taiwanese businessperson, if there is one,” she added.
As to the report’s claims that Hung is Beijing’s choice for next KMT chairperson, Hung said that figuring out the party’s next step is a more pressing issue than who should be the next party head.
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