The Legislative Yuan today passed new amendments for the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), eliminating term extensions and setting a two-term limit for commission members.
The amendments to the Organic Act of the Fair Trade Commission (公平交易委員會組織法), passed their third reading but were criticized by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have put their interests above that of the public, DPP Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
They should bear responsibility for potential consequences to the FTC when the amendments take effect, he added.
The new amendments can lead to paralysis and market disruptions due to political disagreements in the appointment of commissioners, Chuang said.
In January, the terms of four commissioners ended, and the Legislative Yuan confirmed two nominated candidates but rejected two other nominees. Three of the candidates were existing commissioners, while the other was a new candidate.
The DPP government nominated FTC Chairperson Lee May (李鎂), Vice Chairman Chen Chih-min (陳志民) and Commissioner Hong Tsai-lung (洪財隆) on Oct. 30 last year to continue in their positions after their terms ends on Jan. 31.
Lin Ching-tang (林慶堂), the incumbent head of the FTC’s Department of Service Industry Competition, was also nominated as a new commissioner
While Chen and Lin were confirmed to serve four-year terms as commissioners from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31, 2029, Lee and Hong were rejected by lawmakers from the KMT and TPP.
The amendments limit commissioner reappointments to just once, setting a two-term limit for FTC members, and require the premier to submit nominations for new commissioners within three months of a vacancy.
It is essential that the FTC maintains its core values of impartiality, professionalism and independence, KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) said.
The current system lacks clear guardrails and allows for commissioners to serve overly long terms, Weng said.
It is important to keep rotating FTC members out, while maintaining continuity, to ensure new viewpoints are considered, Weng said.
The Executive Yuan has sought to delay nominating new commissioners, TPP legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) said, adding that the goal of the amendment is to avoid lifetime membership in the FTC.
The new amendments, in addition to limiting reappointments, also delete the law’s Article 4, which allows for commissioners to extend their term in the event that a new commissioner has not been nominated or appointed.
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