Tue, Apr 25, 2000 page1

• National Assembly votes to cut own powers

  REFORM: Powers to initiate Constitutional change have mostly been given to the Legislative Yuan. The Assembly retains only the power of ratification

  • By Stephanie Low and Hung Chen-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  National Assembly deputies yesterday passed the third and final reading of a historic constitutional amendment package aimed at reducing their own powers. The reform package was based on a consensus reached by the major political parties -- including the KMT, DPP and New Party.

  The entire package of amendments -- the last to be initiated by the Assembly -- passed at 11:10pm, by a vote of 285 to 0. There were two abstentions.

  Acting Assembly speaker Chen Chin-jang (陳金讓) told delegates last night after passing the historic amendments that of all the reforms proposed to the Assembly, this one was the most significant.

  

  A National Assembly deputy holds up a sign reading "Agree." while his fellow members raise their hands to vote for a constitutional amendment proposal yeaterfay.

  PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

  "It meets public expectations and can reduce the costs for elections, while at the same time maintaining the existing constitutional structure," Chen said.

  The package transfers many of the functions of the Assembly to the Legislative Yuan from May 20, when the term of incumbent Assembly deputies expires.

  In addition, the package added an additional 25 seats to the legislature, giving it a total of 250 seats.

  DPP Secretary-General You Shi-kun, reacting to the passage of the amendments said: "I am very happy with the result. this has been a goal of the DPP for many years."

  Although the Assembly will retain the power to vote on the impeachment of the president or vice president, on constitutional amendments and on proposals to redraw national boundaries, it will no longer have the right to initiate such changes by itself. The right to formally propose such measures will, in future, belong to legislature.

  The Assembly will also cease to be a permanent standing body, but will convene only when impeachment, constitutional reforms or national boundary changes have been formally proposed.

  The New Party, in a statement released after the reform's completion, said that making the Assembly a non-standing body would help steady the constitutional system.

  "The National Assembly has launched six constitutional reforms over the past 10 years based on some impromptu interests, which has triggered much public criticism and caused a number of contradictions in the constitutional system," the statement said.

  The Assembly will meet for no more than one month on each occasion and will be disbanded as soon as the proposed measures are completed. On each occasion, 300 delegates will be appointed by political parties on a proportional representation basis. The method of such an election will be further set down by law. Other functions transferred to the Legislative Yuan include the power to elect the vice president when the office is vacant; initiating a proposal to recall the president or vice president; and confirming Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan appointments after they have been forwarded by the president.

  The president will from now on deliver his annual state-of-the-nation report to the Legislative Yuan, instead of the Assembly. An amendment was also passed lifting Constitutional restrictions under which the president can be subject to impeachment. Previously, the president could be impeached only if he or she was charged with treason or sedition -- conditions considered too narrow.

  For the first time ever, the Assembly also voted on the proposed amendments by open ballot -- making public the stand of each deputy. Determined to have the marginalization package passed, the KMT, DPP and New Party caucuses had all announced they would take disciplinary action against deputies disobeying the party line.

  Patrick Huang (黃澎孝), convener of the People First Party caucus -- which is opposed to what it called "hasty" reforms, warned that the new system to appoint National Assembly deputies by proportional representation ran against democratic principles. Huang said he would not rule out filing an application with the Council of Grand Justices for a constitutional interpretation. In addition, another amendment is intended to give priority to government budgets for social welfare spending and protect the benefits of retired servicemen. Also, grand justices will no longer enjoy lifetime privileges.
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