The Legislative Yuan yesterday voted down all four nominees to the National Communications Commission (NCC), leaving the media regulator with only three commissioners and unable to implement regulatory policies.
Each of the four nominees received 50 votes in favor and 60 against, falling short of the required 57 votes for confirmation.
The nominees — Chiang Jung-hsien (蔣榮先), Cherng Ming-shiou (程明修), Huang Wei-wei (黃葳威) and Lo Huei-wen (羅慧雯) — were all proposed by the Cabinet in July.
Photo: CNA
The Executive Yuan said that they were selected for their expertise in information technology, law and communications, with Chiang and Cherng designated to serve as NCC chairman and vice chairman respectively.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus expressed full support for all four and urged the opposition parties to vote in favor.
However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) rejected all of the candidates after internal discussions earlier in the day.
The NCC had seven commissioners before the terms of four expired on July 31 last year. Since then, only three commissioners — acting chairman Chen Chung-shu (陳崇樹), as well as Wang Cheng-chia (王正嘉) and Wang Yi-hui (王怡惠) — remain in office.
Following the failed confirmation vote, the NCC remains unable to make regulatory policy without a quorum of four members.
DPP caucus secretary-general Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) accused the KMT and the TPP of obstructing the nominations for political reasons rather than professional considerations.
The opposition parties cited concerns over professionalism and political bias.
TPP caucus convener Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said the nominees were found to lack the necessary competence for the positions to which they were nominated.
KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said that his caucus had also unanimously voted to reject the nominees, citing instances of the NCC “abusing its authority.”
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