Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Upset by the deadlock on the last day of the legislative session, Yu accused Ma of holding the budget bill "hostage" in return for the DPP's support of the proposed amendment to the Organic Law of the Central Election Commission (CEC, 中央選舉委員會組織法).
Apologize
PHOTO: CNA
"The pan-blue camp did not hesitate to sacrifice the budget bill for the passage of the amendment [to the Organic Law]. This is playing with the law. Ma should apologize to the public for the legislature's failure to pass the budget bill," Yu said.
The KMT's proposed amendment was aimed at preventing incumbent members from approving a request to hold a referendum on the KMT's assets, Yu said.
"Ma has held the livelihood bill `hostage' to protect [the KMT's] stolen assets. For the sake of social justice, the DPP will not give in to the KMT's threat," the DPP chairman added.
The KMT's proposal would require that CEC members, which vary from 11 to 19, be selected based on the ratio of seats held by each political party. Currently the members are nominated by the premier and appointed by the president.
Defending the KMT's proposal, Ma lashed out at the commission's current setup, with 15 of the 17 members coming from the DPP, leaving the KMT and People First Party with one each.
"Reforms cannot be carried out under such a disproportionate arrangement. The DPP should not resist our proposed reforms," Ma said yesterday during a trip to Hualien.
Impartiality
Ma said the pan-blue camp will not profit from the amendment, as any future policies drafted by the CEC would still have to be approved by a two-thirds majority.
In response to accusations that the KMT's proposal would give the party an advantage in next year's presidential election, Ma argued that the amendment's aim was to establish an impartial and independent commission that would not be controlled by the ruling party.
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