Opposition lawmakers yesterday set up a task force to probe alleged misconduct in a government egg import program, while Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said the legislature does not have the power to investigate the matter and walked out in protest.
The proposal came at an Economics Committee session which was headed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), who alternates with the other coconvener, DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩).
KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have a combined majority in the 14-member committee to approve the task force.
Photo: CNA
The DPP committee members opposed the task force, saying it would exceed the legislature’s authority as outlined in the Act Governing the Legislative Yuan’s Power (立法院職權行使法) and contravene the Constitution, by disrupting the separation of powers between the five branches of government.
Yang continued with the procedure and DPP members left the session in protest.
After the vote, opposition parties lawmakers agreed that TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張?楷) would lead the task force.
Photo: CNA
Chang and Yang announced the task force’s immediate operation through Dec. 31.
Yang said the task force would probe controversies associated with the government’s egg import program from 2022 to last year, focusing on the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies regarding allegations of officials giving undue benefit to Kaohsiung-based Ultra Source Ltd.
DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) said that prosecutors and the Control Yuan are investigating the egg import program, therefore setting up a task force would contravene the Act Governing the Legislative Yuan’s Power.
“Public prosecutors in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Changhua County have carried out investigations on alleged misconduct in the egg import program, so lawmakers must first wait for the outcome on these probes,” Chen said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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