The Legislative Yuan today voted to approve the 14th president and vice president of the Examination Yuan and six new commissioners, ending a months-long stalemate after the previous members’ terms ended in August.
The results were released at midday, with only Ker Li-ling (柯麗鈴), president of the Academy for the Judiciary and a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, failing to gain legislators' support.
Examination Yuan Vice President Chou Hung-hsien (周弘憲) has been approved to head the nation’s highest examination body next term, having received 59 votes in favor and 53 against, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
Former minister of examination Hsu Shu-hsiang (許舒翔) is to take over Chou’s position as Examination Yuan vice president after receiving 112 affirmative votes.
The terms for the previous Examination Yuan officials expired on Aug. 31. President William Lai (賴清德) nominated the new members in May.
According to The Law Governing the Legislative Yuan’s Exercise of Power (立法院職權行使法), nominees must win more than half of the legislators’ support, or 57 votes, to be approved.
As Ker received only 51 votes, with 57 negative votes and four legislators abstaining, she would not serve as a commissioner this term, Han said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) said that party members maintained an open approach to considering the nominations, with no agenda to reject certain nominees.
After a lively debate this morning, the caucus decided to vote against Chou and Ker, she said.
Taiwan People's Party (TPP) legislators decided to vote against commissioner nominees Ker and Iwan Nawi, TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said before the vote.
However, TPP Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) said she voted incorrectly, accidentally marking both options on her ballot.
The TPP decided to vote against Ker due to her lack of understanding and familiarity with the Examination Yuan and its functions in prior questioning, and against Iwan Nawi, as the party believes she did not fulfill her responsibilities as commissioner in the previous term, Huang said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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