Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien yesterday caused a furor in the Control Yuan by saying that it might as well shut down because it was not able to perform its purpose of serving justice, after it failed to impeach Keelung Mayor Chang Tong-rong (張通榮), who was convicted by the Keelung District Court of using his influence to persuade authorities to let a woman who had allegedly driven under the influence of alcohol and assaulted a policewoman off with no charges.
It was the second time the impeachment motion failed. Under current regulations, the Control Yuan will not be able to try to impeach Chang again on the issue.
Wang said he originally thought the second meeting would pass the motion, particularly since the media had long labeled the Control Yuan “incompetent.”
Stating that he was very sorry to hear it had not passed, Wang said: “If the Control Yuan cannot provide justice and equality, it might be better to abolish the branch.”
Wang said that Control Yuan positions were often used as bargaining chips or rewards for political favors, adding that if something was not done, the quality of the Control Yuan will continue to go downhill and become one of the “three institutions brewing chaos” to the nation and its people.
Wang was referencing comments by former department of health minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良), who once said that “the media, the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan are the three parties creating chaos in Taiwan.”
If Republic of China founding father Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), who designed the Control Yuan as one of the five government branches, knew of the nation’s current situation, he “would cry a river” at how his progeny misconstrued the Control Yuan system, Wang said.
“I’m not saying that the Control Yuan with its current members is persecuting people, but the fact that we are seeing very little effect while spending such great amounts of money shows that we have come to a fork in the road,” Wang said.
“If we don’t change, we will not be far from the fate former minister Yang had ascribed to the Control Yuan,” he added.
Wang said the Legislative Yuan — with its powers of constitutional amendment — should “actively broach the subject and review the Control Yuan system” and either make it smaller, or remove it completely.
Wang said he did not care if his comments created a backlash from other Control Yuan members.
“It’s not a personal issue I’m talking about, but rather the good of Taiwan,” he said.
In response, Control Yuan members said that if the Control Yuan president is making such comments, “he should perhaps resign first.”
“What has the Control Yuan President done over the past five years?” Control Yuan member Lee Ful-dien (李復甸) said when reached for comment.
Wang had done nothing to maintain the institution’s health, nor had he done anything that would further its goals, Lee said, adding that Wang had only placed more and more limitations on Control Yuan members’ powers.
“I see no reason, no right, for him to criticize us while we are working hard on cases,” Lee said.
Control Yuan member Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) said that if there was a need to “review,” the Control Yuan should review itself.
“Wang is not doing his job correctly,” she said.
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