Taiwan People's Party Caucus Proposes Executive Yuan Expedite Appointment of Central Election Commission Personnel; Legislative Yuan Sends Directly to Second Reading

The Legislative Yuan on March 13 conducted a roll-call vote on the personnel approval for the Central Election Commission (CEC). Four nominees, including CEC Chairperson nominee Yu Ying-lung, were approved, while three nominees, including Deputy Chairperson nominee Hu Po-yen, were rejected. The Executive Yuan stated it would legally propose different candidates to fill the vacancies. The Kuomintang caucus questioned the Executive Yuan's delay in issuing personnel orders after the Legislative Yuan approved the CEC appointments, calling it a disruption to constitutional order.

Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Hui-chih stated on the 9th that it was difficult to accept the opposition parties' rejection of three nominees, but to ensure smooth election operations, the Executive Yuan would handle the CEC appointment case according to law and propose new candidates, hoping the Legislative Yuan would exercise its consent power as soon as possible.

The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus today proposed in the plenary session that after an independent agency's personnel case is legally reviewed and approved by the Legislative Yuan, the executive branch has a clear legal obligation to issue personnel orders and complete the appointment process according to law. However, the Executive Yuan has yet to issue the personnel orders and initiate the handover process.

The TPP caucus stated that Premier Cho Jung-tai's public refusal to fulfill his legal responsibilities not only erodes the basic principle of administration according to law but also constitutes an executive power confronting legislative oversight, severely shaking the constitutional foundation of separation of powers. Yet, Cho Jung-tai, in turn, accused the opposition parties of needing to "show sincerity," twisting right and wrong.

The TPP caucus expressed that to defend democratic constitutional order and ensure year-end election operations are not maliciously interfered with by the ruling party, it recommends the plenary session pass a resolution "demanding Premier Cho Jung-tai immediately cease all political calculations, strictly adhere to legal norms, and promptly issue personnel orders for the four CEC commissioners, including Yu Ying-lung, to complete the inauguration process; and should cease inappropriate accusations and political pressure against the Legislative Yuan to return to the right track of rule of law and maintain the proper functioning of the democratic system."

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Chuang Ruei-hsiung stated in the plenary session that the Legislative Yuan just extended its session until July 31 under the majority of the KMT and TPP, but without reviewing the general budget or military procurement cases, the extension was merely to provide a judicial protective umbrella. The CEC is an independent agency, and the DPP supports its normal operation, but the KMT is treating the CEC as a remote control, approving as many as they like.

Chuang Ruei-hsiung said that the KMT is blocking appointments on one hand and claiming to maintain democratic operations on the other; the KMT is both rejecting and obstructing. If the KMT and TPP want the CEC to operate normally, they should support the subsequent nominations.

Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who presided over the session, stated that the TPP caucus proposed sending the proposal directly to the second reading. If there were no objections from other caucuses, it would be sent directly to the second reading and then to caucus negotiations, with the TPP caucus responsible for convening the negotiations. (Edited by Lin Shu-yuan) 1150410