Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang, also a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman, vied for the post with Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), who is acting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman.
With an absolute majority of 114 seats, the pan-blue camp was supported by the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) and independent lawmakers, giving Wang a total of 123 votes against Ker's 101 yesterday morning.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
One vote unexpectedly went to KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中); it was thought that this vote might have come from a pan-blue camp or NPSU lawmaker by mistake.
In the afternoon, the election for deputy speaker was a race between Chung and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Huang Tsung-yuan (黃宗源), who the DPP caucus decided at noon would represent the pan-green camp.
Chung won as expected, snaring 122 votes against Huang's 102. One ballot was invalid.
Wang and Chung were sworn in shortly after the second poll.
Premier Frank Hsieh (
After the ceremony, Wang, Chung and Hsieh talked in private for about half an hour.
At a banquet for the new lawmakers, Wang expressed the hope that cross-party negotiation and reconciliation could facilitate political stability.
"The executive and the legislature are like two wheels of a cart and the wings of a bird: if they work well with each other, the cart can move forward smoothly, and the bird can fly anywhere it wants," Wang said.
"But if the two ... are distant from one another, then it will be difficult for anyone to go anywhere. Cross-party harmony will improve the nation's development to a considerable degree in very little time at all," he said.
"Before Premier Hsieh took office, he stressed that his Cabinet would be a Cabinet of negotiation, and this exactly matches Jin-pyng's [my] long-term efforts in facilitating cross-party negotiations and the passing of many bills," Wang said. "I hope that the ruling and opposition parties can reach consensus as a base for propelling national development."
Wang said he would be a speaker who would be impartial in legislative affairs, and would safeguard the dignity of the legislature.
"I hope to improve legislative autonomy and self-discipline, and establish a high-quality legislative culture. I will also try my best to facilitate cross-party harmony and have everyone work toward national improvement and prosperity," Wang said.
The DPP and the TSU also decided on their new caucus whips yesterday.
For the DPP, the three whips are legislators Eugene Jao (
For the TSU, the new caucus whips are lawmakers Lo Chih-ming (
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS