Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang dismissed a story in yesterday's Chinese-language United Daily News which said Wang hoped Ma could establish a "constitutional precedent" by delivering an address in the Legislative Yuan after he is sworn in.
When asked for comment, Wang said the legislature would have to find a cross-party consensus before Ma could give an address.
Wang said he was willing to fully cooperate with Ma if he needed to communicate to the legislature through him.
In related developments, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucuses criticized each other over whether legislative interpellations by the Cabinet should be suspended following the KMT's victory in Saturday's election.
The DPP caucus said yesterday that its members would oppose the KMT caucus' request that the premier continue his regular briefings to the legislature before the new president takes his oath on May 20.
"What they [the KMT] are requesting reflects the fact they want to bully the rest of the legislature," DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (
Ker said that the premier's priorities now would be to ensure a smooth transition of power to the new premier.
"This is not the first handover of power. In the past, if that happened, the premier would not have had to brief the legislature before the new president and his government took the oath," Ker said.
"We should maintain that tradition," he said.
KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) responded by accusing Ker of lying, saying that the legislature does not have such a precedent of suspending the interpellation sessions following a presidential poll.
"The Cabinet is still pushing administrative work [before May 20]. Why does the legislature have to give up its right to question Cabinet officials and help the public supervise the government?" Lin said.
Showing the press copies of a cross-party negotiation document endorsed by Ker and Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) Legislator Yen Ching-piao (
"If the KMT caucus had really forced [the DPP and the NPSU to accept the conclusion], why did the DPP sign the document before the KMT?" Lin said.
The document showed that the premier would not be required to attend today's interpellation session, but would be required to report "the Cabinet's principles to deal with important administrative affairs before May 20" to the legislature on Friday.
The interpellation session originally scheduled for next Tuesday would also be suspended, the document showed.
The conclusion, however, is not valid unless the KMT caucus also endorses it.
Upset by what it called the DPP's attempt's to "discredit" the KMT caucus, Lin last night said the KMT would refuse to endorse the agreement and the interpellation session would continue today as originally scheduled.
Meanwhile, Ker and his fellow DPP lawmakers apologized to their supporters during a press conference at the DPP caucus office for the DPP's defeats in January's legislative election and Saturday's election.
Ker said that the DPP would recognize and admit its failures but its members would still stand tall as political opponents to the KMT.
"We shall make sure that [the] president-elect carries out his campaign promises," Ker said.
He said that DPP members would elect a new chairman in May.
But, at the moment, potential candidates shall not be the focus for discussions because what DPP members should do is to figure out what they did wrong and what they need to improve so the public would regain their faith in the party, he said.
"If Frank Hsieh (
"It is more important for us to figure out how to do our jobs well and make sure the KMT is doing the right thing," he said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
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