Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday called on opposition lawmakers to abide by the law and refrain from interfering with a legally-required policy report that he is scheduled to give today at the Legislative Yuan.
Opposition legislators, calling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration an "interim government," had threatened to disrupt Yu's report.
Undaunted, Yu said yesterday that he was confident that the lawmaking body would abide by the Constitution and the nation's laws and would allow him to fulfill his duty to give the report.
"In accordance with the Constitution, I will go to the legislature to address the government's policy goals. It is my duty to provide answers to the lawmaking body about government policies," Yu said.
"I believe opposition lawmakers will not and should not make any unwelcome or impolite gestures. After all, I am coming at the invitation of the legislature," Yu said.
Yu made his remarks yesterday afternoon after attending a DPP legislative meeting.
The party's caucus had held the closed-door meeting to discuss ways to counter the opposition lawmakers' plans.
In a bid to help Yu deliver the address as planned and to maintain order on the scene, the caucus decided to establish a three-person task force.
The task force's members are legislators Wang Sing-nan (
The caucus also decided to express its support for former civil service minister Wu Rong-ming (
Yu defended the legitimacy of Chen's presidency and his premiership -- which the opposition camp has refused to recognize.
"There's no question about the appropriateness and legitimacy of President Chen's presidency. He was elected by the people and his victory was certified by the Central Election Commission," Yu said.
"Nor do I see any reason for opposition lawmakers to question the legitimacy of my premiership. I'm appointed by President Chen," Yu said.
People First Party legislative whip Hsieh Chang-chieh (
"We have to express our basic stance. To address Cabinet officials with the titles of `mister' or `miss' instead of their official titles sounds fair and rational, doesn't it?" Hsieh said, adding that the caucus would not decide on precisely what strategy to use during the policy report before discussing the matter with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
Legislative Speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (
"According to the Law Governing Legislators' Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法), the new premier has to address the legislature on government policy two weeks after taking office," Wang said.
"Lawmakers can choose to forsake their duty and not question the premier but I hope they don't do anything to prevent others exercising their duties," he said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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