Control Yuan nominees not a change in DPP policy: Tsai

Taipei--President Tsai Ing-wen (???) indicated on Thursday that her submission of a list of nominees to the Control Yuan does not represent a change in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's policy that the body should be abolished through a constitutional amendment.

Tsai named former Presidential Office Secretary General Chen Shih-meng (???) and 10 others to fill vacancies in the Control Yuan, her spokesman Alex Huang (???) announced on Wednesday.

The other nominees are former activist and Taipei City government staffer Wang Yu-ling(???), Deputy Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Tien Chiu-chin(???), former legislator Walis Perin, Professor Lin Sheng-fong (???), medical doctor Chang Wu-shou (???), lawyer Kao Yung-cheng (???), lawyer Yang Fang-wan (???), former lawmaker Jao Yung-ching (???), People First Party Deputy Secretary General Liu Wen-hsiung (???)and Judge Tsai Chung-yi(???).

The Presidential Office submitted the list of nominees on Thursday to the Legislature for approval.

On the same day, Tsai, who is also DPP chairperson, reaffirmed the party's official position during a meeting with the nominees.

Tsai said she named the replacements in accordance with the Constitution and based on two factors. First, according to the Constitution, the Control Yuan exercises the power of impeachment, censure and proposing corrective measures in the event of an unlawful act or misconduct by public servants or administrative organizations. Before the Constitution is amended, that power should be exercised by competent and professional people, Tsai said.

Second, since the 2016 presidential election, public opinion in Taiwan has changed and the vacancies in the 29-member Control Yuan need to be filled to better heed public opinion.

Tsai said she believes the selected nominees with experience in several fields, including human rights, labor affairs, justice, public health and environmental protection, will be able to contribute their expertise in various fields to better monitor government performance.

Tsai made the remarks after the unveiling of the nominees list sparked speculation that she was indicating a shift in the DPP's previous position on the Control Yuan.

Earlier on Thursday, while introducing the nominees, Vice President Chen Chien-jen (???) denied allegations from some Kuomintang members that the appointments were in fact a political reward.

The vice president said that while some people saw Tsai's nominees as counter to DPP policy on amending the Constitution, the decision was made out of entirely professional considerations.

According to the Constitution, members of the Control Yuan serve a term of six years, though the new members will serve until July 31, 2020, Chen noted.

However, the nominations attracted criticism from several scholars. National Dong Hwa University professor Shih Cheng-feng (???) lambasted the DPP for not even trying to amend the Constitution, while accusing the party of deceiving the public by promising to abolish the Control Yuan in the first place.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel