The KMT's defeat in the March election heralded radical changes which will affect the distribution of power within the party and the make-up of its executive body, the Central Standing Committee (CSC).
This is not only because Cabinet members will no longer join the ranks of the committee while the party remains in opposition, but because defeat has forced the party to reform its internal election process.
In the past, when the KMT held immense sway over its members, it designated 16 of the CSC's 33 members, while the other 17 were elected by 230 Central Committee members from among their own ranks. Even in the case of "elected" members, however, the party was often thought to campaign covertly in favor of its own preferred "unofficial appointees."
With the March defeat, however, came a diminution in the party's authority and a reform committee was established to draw up reform proposals.
The committee proposed canceling the quota for designated members and confining membership exclusively to those elected by the Central Committee, as well as reducing the total number of CSC members from 33 to 31.
Many KMT lawmakers, however, fear a loss of influence which they claim could damage the party further.
"The KMT should increase the number of lawmakers in its primary decision-making body in order better to reflect public opinion," said lawmaker Chen Hung-chi (陳鴻基).
Many lawmakers have shown an interest in securing CSC posts, including Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
In addition to Wang and Yao, lawmaker Ting Shou-chung (
According to KMT lawmakers, some 15 of them will stand for CSC posts and Wang is doing his best to campaign on their behalf.
"Legislators should at least occupy one third to one quarter of CSC posts," said Wang.
The Legislative Yuan is a "doorkeeper" for crucial policies, so the KMT should look up to its Legislative Yuan members and ensure that the CSC maintains its significance by maximizing its involvement in the decision-making process, Wang said.
KMT spokesman, Jason Hu (胡志強) said the party welcomed more lawmakers in the CSC, but restated the party position that there would be no protective quota for them.
Of the current 33 CSC members, four are from the Legislative Yuan, two from the National Assembly, 13 from the former KMT government and five from local government, with the rest coming from civil or business groups.
"The Central Committee is likely to vote to replace the majority of former government officials currently sitting on the CSC with current members of the Legislative Yuan and National Assembly, due to changes in the political climate," said former National Assembly Deputy Chuang Lung-chang(
Chuan, in addition to his colleagues Chen Chin-jang (
At a dinner meeting last week, they received support from about 30 Assembly deputies with the status of Central Committee members.
To date, some 63 members, including 30 deputies and 33 legislators who are also Central Committee members, are thought to have pledged their support to legislators who are candidates for the CSC. But none have gained sufficient pledges of support to guarantee victory, it is thought.
"Any candidate has to maximize his votes through personal channels," said Chang.
He expressed his confidence in victory, however, saying that since the party had to understand public opinion, it had no choice but to include more publically-elected representatives in its decision-making body.
The US government has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan and the Philippines to boost the deterrence capabilities of countries in the first island chain, a report by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The main countries on the first island chain include the two nations and Taiwan. The bureau is to present the report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The US military has deployed Typhon missile systems to Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zambales province in the Philippines during their joint military exercises. It has also installed NMESIS anti-ship systems in Japan’s Okinawa
‘WIN-WIN’: The Philippines, and central and eastern European countries are important potential drone cooperation partners, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) in an interview published yesterday confirmed that there are joint ventures between Taiwan and Poland in the drone industry. Lin made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper). The government-backed Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems on Wednesday last week signed a memorandum of understanding in Poland to develop a “non-China” supply chain for drones and work together on key technologies. Asked if Taiwan prioritized Poland among central and eastern European countries in drone collaboration, Lin
BACK TO WORK? Prosecutors said they are considering filing an appeal, while the Hsinchu City Government said it has applied for Ann Kao’s reinstatement as mayor The High Court yesterday found suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) not guilty of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months in prison commutable to a fine from seven years and four months. The verdict acquitted Kao of the corruption charge, but found her guilty of causing a public official to commit document forgery. The High Prosecutors’ Office said it is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to file an appeal. The Taipei District Court in July last year sentenced Kao to seven years and four months in prison, along with a four-year deprivation of civil rights, for contravening the Anti-Corruption
NO CONFIDENCE MOTION? The premier said that being toppled by the legislature for defending the Constitution would be a democratic badge of honor for him Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday announced that the Cabinet would not countersign the amendments to the local revenue-sharing law passed by the Legislative Yuan last month. Cho said the decision not to countersign the amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) was made in accordance with the Constitution. “The decision aims to safeguard our Constitution,” he said. The Constitution stipulates the president shall, in accordance with law, promulgate laws and issue mandates with the countersignature of the head of the Executive Yuan, or with the countersignatures of both the head of the Executive Yuan and ministers or
RSS