The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that as the government enters the post-election caretaker period, activity regarding major policies should be suspended until the new legislature convenes, including the negotiation of the trade in goods agreement with China, which should wait for the institutionalization of a cross-strait agreement oversight mechanism.
With the Ministry of Economic Affairs announcing that negotiations with China were completely halted after the elections, DPP spokesperson Yang Chia-liang (楊家俍) said the new legislature, which is to convene next month, would be able to review a bill outlining an oversight mechanism.
“We would hope that the trade in goods negotiations could respect public opinion and we believe that the new round of negotiations should resume only after the passage of the oversight bill,” Yang said, adding that the new legislature would also place the draft political party act on the top of the legislative agenda.
In response to questions about the mass resignation of the Cabinet and calls for a majority-party-formed Cabinet, Yang said the DPP “has one stance only,” which is that “there is no room in the constitutional-political system for the majority party to form the Cabinet.”
“The Constitution clearly states that the right to appoint the premier belongs to the president. We would hope that the Constitution would be observed on this issue,” Yang said. “As for whether Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) and his Cabinet resigns and whether President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) approves such a move, as it is within the purview of the president, we would respect the president’s decision.”
The conventions set by the two transitions of power in 2000 and 2008 could be followed, he added.
“The most important mission to be taken care of by the incumbent government is to maintain a stable political environment as its responsibility as a caretaker government,” Yang said.
“The work should not be ‘slow torture,’” Yang said as some government officials have reportedly said it would be.
When asked about candidates for the premiership, Yang said president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would have a thorough review later, but the party is to launch a nationwide trip starting tomorrow for her and vice president-elect Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to thank people for their votes.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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