Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said he might seek to abolish the Control Yuan as he vowed to continue his boycott of Tainan City Council meetings, despite facing possible censure by the Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission after the Control Yuan’s decision to impeach him.
Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has not attended Tainan City Council meetings since he was sworn in as mayor in December last year, saying he would not do so until a case involving Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Tainan City Council Speaker Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) is resolved.
A first-round court found Lee guilty of giving money to councilors in exchange for support in last year’s speakership election, but he has appealed the decision.
Photo: CNA
Earlier this month, the Control Yuan impeached Lai, referring him to the commission for disciplinary action, which could include revocation of his role as mayor.
“If the commission decides to issue further sanctions, I will file a lawsuit to abolish the Control Yuan to defend my rights and constitutional principles, as well as not allowing the Control Yuan to illegally expand its power,” Lai said.
“Society has already reached a consensus to abolish the Control Yuan, because it is not only against constitutional principles, but has also become a tool for political manipulation,” he said. “It should be abolished for the nation’s sake and societal stability.”
If the commission asks him to explain himself, he would not attend a summons, Lai said, adding that he would reply in writing, because he is busy handling municipal affairs.
The DPP’s Central Standing Committee yesterday passed a resolution to push for a revision of the Local Government Act (地方制度法), requiring councilors to include their names on ballots when voting for speakership and deputy-speakership roles, Lai said, adding that a speaker or deputy speaker should be suspended if they are found guilty in a first-round trial.
“The measure is meant as the first step to clear the influence of black money in local politics,” Lai said. “I believe that, if implemented, the rule would help keep local politics clean."
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old