The Central Standing Committee of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Wednesday approved the nomination of legislator-at-large-elect Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) for legislative speaker, along with Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) as his deputy.
Han and Chiang are a “perfect match,” KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said at the committee meeting, adding that Han served as a lawmaker from 1993 to 1996, making him the most senior of the incoming lawmakers.
Chiang, who represents the eighth constituency in Taichung, is familiar with party affairs, having served as KMT chairman from March 2020 to September 2021, Chu said.
Photo: CNA
The nomination of the pair had been called into question when KMT legislator-elect Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) expressed an interest in running for the post three days ago. Fu later declared his support for the pair.
Promising that the KMT in the new legislature would be a strong source of checks and balances on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, Chu said that the party is to join with other opposition forces to back bills promoting reforms and progressive values.
The KMT has already prepared bills addressing public concerns, such as nuclear power, assisted reproduction and absentee voting, Chu said.
Despite its defeat in the presidential race, the KMT won the most seats in the 113-member Legislative Yuan with 52 seats, narrowly surpassing the DPP, which secured 51 seats.
If the KMT is able to team up with two pro-KMT independent legislators and the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) eight lawmakers, the opposition parties would have an absolute majority of 62 seats, Chu said.
Regarding the vote for the speakership, Chu said that the process must be transparent and honest, and the party must be united to secure the speakership for Han.
Any deal in exchange for power or money would not be tolerated, he said.
Although an alliance with the TPP has been offered, including the position of deputy speaker, the smaller opposition party has not indicated any interest in such a partnership, Chu said.
A news report by the Chinese-language United Daily News on Wednesday cited TPP insiders as saying the latest developments indicate party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is inclined to support Han, a claim later denied by TPP Deputy Secretary-General Osmar Hsu (許甫).
Meanwhile, the DPP caucus said it would continue to support Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) and his deputy, Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), for another term, effectively handing the TPP the decisive role in determining who would be in the roles.
The newly elected 11th Legislative Yuan is to be inaugurated on Thursday next week and its first task is to vote for a speaker and deputy speaker.
If none of the candidates receive an absolute majority, a second vote is to be held when only a plurality of votes is required to become speaker.
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