The legislature will today vote on a Cabinet request to overturn part of the recently passed amendments to the Farmers' Association Law (農會法) and the Fishermen's Association Law (漁會法), amendments which the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said could pave the way for a return to "black gold" politics.
As Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
"The request was proposed to defend the interests of farmers and fishermen," Chang said in response to questions from pan-blue lawmakers.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The amendments cancel the three-term limit on the associations' secretaries-general and lower the requirements of employment renewal.
The amendments also stipulate that association staffers standing trial are not to be relieved of their jobs until a final verdict has been delivered, a departure from initial regulations which dictate that employees convicted in the second stage of a trial be dismissed.
The Executive Yuan considers this part of the amendments to be a move "against people's expectations" for the eradication of black gold politics, which is why it called on the legislature to reconsider this aspect of the amendments, Chang wrote in a report to the legislature on the issue.
Chang denied that he had ever labeled the associations "symbols of black gold politics," and said that they were "the pride of Taiwan."
"I have great gratitude to the associations. I don't want inappropriate personnel to take charge of the associations, as they would damage their development," Chang said in response to a question from People First Party Legislator Tsai Shen-chia (
Tsai said that among 43,715 people working for the associations, only 14 had been indicted.
"This extremely low percentage indicates that the current regulations meant to ensure the integrity of association staffers are adequate," Tsai said.
"Most public servants are not relieved of their posts unless they have been found guilty in the final verdict, so why do the associations' employees have to answer to stricter standards?" he said.
Chang denied this, saying that public servants were suspended from their duties if they are convicted in the second stage of a trial, and were fired if found guilty in the final verdict.
The Constitution stipulates that if the Cabinet deems a resolution on a statutory, budgetary, or treaty bill passed by the legislature difficult to implement, it may, if the president consents, request the legislature to reconsider the resolution. The original resolution is retained if half of the legislators present at a meeting held to vote on the matter decide to uphold the original version.
"I would take full responsibility according to the Constitution if the request fails to pass the legislature," Chang said, without elaborating.
Meanwhile, several DPP legislators yesterday threw their weight behind the Cabinet's call for reconsideration.
"As of last month, 16 staffers of 12 farmers' or fishermen's associations had been convicted in a third trial," DPP Legislator Charles Chiang (江昭儀) said at a press conference.
A chart provided by Chiang indicated that the 16 staffers had been convicted for offenses including breach of trust, election bribery, drug dealing and embezzlement of public funds.
"We all know that it takes a long time for a legal case to go through three trials," DPP Legislator Wang To-far (
"Relaxing the regulation to allow staffers who are standing trial for corruption to stay employed until a final verdict has been delivered will only give them more time to embezzle money from the associations," he said.
Wang said they agreed with the Cabinet that association personnel who are convicted in a second trial should be dismissed.
OFFLINE: People who do not wish to register can get the money from select ATMs using their bank card, ID number and National Health Insurance card number Online registration for NT$6,000 (US$196.32) cash payments drawn from last year’s tax surplus is to open today for eligible people whose national ID or permanent residency number ends in either a zero or a one, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. Officials from the ministry revealed which days Taiwanese and eligible foreigners would be able to register for the cash payments at a joint news conference with the Ministry of Digital Affairs. Online registration is to open tomorrow for those whose number ends in a two or three; on Friday for those that end in a four or five: on Saturday
TECH PROGRAM: A US official said that an important part of the delegation’s trip would be to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co executives The US is to send officials in charge of chip development to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to promote cooperation in the global semiconductor supply chain, the US Department of Commerce said on Tuesday. Chips Program Office Director Michael Schmidt announced the visit, which marks the first time officials from the office are to visit the three nations since it was set up in September last year. “As semiconductors and technologies continue to evolve, the United States will keep working with allies and partners to develop coordinated strategies to ensure that malign actors cannot use the latest technologies to undermine our collective
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) officials are investigating why a Starlux Airlines flight to Penang, Malaysia, returned to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport nearly two hours after takeoff yesterday morning. The airline said in a statement that Flight JX721 to Penang took off from Taoyuan airport at 9:20am. “After the dashboard showed a signal of an abnormality in the hydraulic system, the captain followed standard operating procedures and returned the flight to Taoyuan airport for safety precautions,” the airline said, adding that the flight landed safely at the airport at 11:04am. The airline arranged for the passengers to have lunch after the flight landed and
WORKING UP AN APPETITE: Sales at the Rueifong Night Market surged 20 to 30 percent, while seats at Liouhe Night Market were packed until 1am, market officials said South Korean pop band Blackpink’s concerts over the weekend in Kaohsiung helped draw large crowds to local night markets, the Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday. The two concerts on Saturday and Sunday at Kaohsiung National Stadium drew more than 90,000 people. The city government offered NT$50 vouchers to spend locally to concertgoers who showed their ticket stubs. Liouhe Night Market (六合夜市) management committee head Chuang Chi-chang (莊其章) said that crowds over the weekend surged at about 10pm and the market remained packed until 1:30am. “Almost all the seats were filled,” Chuang said. Night market stall owners had stocked up in expectation of an increased number
RSS