TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Johnny Chiang announced plans for parliamentary reform on Thursday (Jan. 25), calling for unity in forming a new and more representative legislature.
At the Central Standing Committee meeting a day earlier, legislators Han Kuo-yu and Chiang were selected as KMT candidates for the Legislative Yuan's presidential and vice presidential roles.
In a Facebook post, Chiang invited suggestions on the legislature's transformation from the public. He pledged to defend the dignity of the parliament through legislative amendments that bolster equilibrium.
Chiang criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for their eight-year term, stating they reduced the legislative yuan to an executive department.
He noted that executive officials regularly provide insincere responses or counter-questions during inquiries, violating the constitutional duty of transparency and disrespecting the parliament and public opinion.
Chiang revealed previously proposed amendments aimed at curbing fickleness in officials, requiring them to provide substantive responses. He argued that the legislature should have full access to data that are routinely concealed or obscured.
According to him, this is vital for the protection of parliamentary dignity, ensuring oversight balance, and for the prevention of administrative abuses.
Chiang emphasized that the current myriad composition of the LegislativeYyuan marks an end to single-party dominance.
He professed high expectations for the parliamentary reform and hoped legislators contribute to a more diverse democratic practice in the new legislative yuan.
Finally, Chiang hoped for extensive discussions on numerous legislative amendments. He called for collective effort in actualizing a power balance, establishing a new parliament, and honoring fresh public opinion.