On the eve of today's opening of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, delegates met yesterday to re-confirm their commitment to curtail the powers of the Assembly and defuse doubts that they could complete their task.
"This is the right time to turn the consensus into reality. There is no reason to block the tide of reform," said Tsai Cheng-yuan (
The proposed reforms would come into effect on May 20, when the term of incumbent deputies expires. The reform package aims to transfer many of the functions of the Assembly to the Legislative Yuan. Although the Assembly would retain the power to vote on an impeachment of the president and vice president, on constitutional amendments and on proposals to redraw national boundaries, it would no longer have the right to initiate such changes itself; the right to formally propose such measures would be passed to the legislature.
The Assembly would also cease to be a permanent standing body, but would convene only when impeachment or constitutional reforms had been formally proposed, and its membership would be appointed by the political parties on a proportional representation basis.
The Assembly would meet for no more than one month on each occasion and would be disbanded as soon as the requested measures were completed.
Functions transferred to the Legislative Yuan include the power to elect the vice president when the office is vacant; initiating a proposal to recall the president or vice president; confirming Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan appointments after they have been forwarded by the president; and initiating proposals on changes to national boundaries.
Once the reforms are made, the president will deliver his annual state-of-the-nation report to the Legislative Yuan, instead of the Assembly.
The proposal would also lift a restriction in the Constitution under which the president can be subject to impeachment. As the Constitution currently stands, the president can be impeached only if he or she is charged with treason or sedition. These conditions have been considered too narrow.
The Assembly's goal is to finish the amendments by April 25 -- preempting the next National Assembly election set for May 6.
While the reforms have been endorsed by the KMT, DPP and New Party caucuses, the newly established People First Party (PFP) caucus has expressed its disapproval.
"There should be more time for social elites, academics and ordinary people to express their opinions over the issue," said Patrick Huang (
Huang said his caucus believed the Assembly should remain in its present form for another four year term to work out a comprehensive reform package for the parliamentary system, after which it should be completely abolished.
"We understand that many Assembly members from the three caucuses are still not satisfied with the decision adopted by their caucuses, and we can appeal to them directly," Huang said.
Huang would not, however, specify how many deputies he thought would support the PFP's line, though the party has claimed to have at least 20 followers in the Assembly, most of whom are former KMT and New Party members. There are currently 315 seats in the Assembly. For any amendment to pass, it must be endorsed by at least three fourths of the attending deputies.
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