TPP Proposes Amendment to Ban Rejected Nominees from Serving as Acting Prosecutor General

Central News Agency (CNA) reporter Zeng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 29. Following the President's appointment of Xu Xi-xiang, a Supreme Prosecutors Office official whose nomination was rejected by the Legislative Yuan, as acting Prosecutor General, the TPP legislative caucus proposed an amendment to the Court Organization Act today. The amendment would prohibit rejected nominees from serving as acting officials and will be submitted for a second reading. Former Prosecutor General Shing Tai-chao's term ended on May 7. President Lai Ching-te nominated Xu Xi-xiang on March 13, but the Legislative Yuan rejected the nomination on May 5. Subsequently, the President appointed Xu as acting Prosecutor General. At a press conference today, TPP legislator Hsu Chung-hsin stated that while the position is essential, acting appointments cannot be unlimited. He argued that since the Prosecutor General is a single-member office, allowing the President to appoint acting officials indefinitely undermines the Legislative Yuan's confirmation power. The TPP proposed amending Article 66 of the Court Organization Act to limit acting terms to three months and ban rejected nominees from serving in that capacity. Regarding frequent 'towing scams,' TPP caucus whip Chen Ching-lung noted that due to the Ministry of Transportation's inaction, the TPP proposed amending the Highway Act in March to fully regulate the towing industry, with fines up to 1 million TWD for contract violations. As the Legislative Yuan has not scheduled a review, the TPP will propose an immediate second reading today. The TPP also proposed amending the Air Pollution Control Act. Legislator Chiu Hui-ju pointed out that some coal-fired units remain undecommissioned and could be reactivated, threatening public health. They proposed shortening permit validity to a minimum of two years. Regarding drug-impaired driving, legislator Chen Chao-tzu proposed amending Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code to increase prison sentences from 3 to 5 years, and up to life imprisonment for fatal cases, while also advocating for the immediate confiscation of vehicles involved in drug-impaired driving.