Nominee Urges Against Vacuums in Constitutional Roles Amidst Political Obstruction

Taiwan's legislature is facing accusations of deliberately obstructing nominations for key constitutional bodies, with opposition parties allegedly blocking appointments to the Control Yuan, the Central Election Commission, and the National Communications Commission. Legislator Chen Pei-yu of the Democratic Progressive Party criticized this pattern as "malicious obstruction" and a potential threat to constitutional governance.

Lin Li-ying, a nominee for the Control Yuan, addressed these concerns during a legislative hearing. She emphasized that regardless of differing opinions on the necessity or structure of the Control Yuan, it is crucial to avoid "lapses" in its constitutionally mandated functions. Lin stated that the appointment process should proceed to ensure the institution can operate effectively, even amidst debates about its potential abolition or reform through constitutional amendment.

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Even if there are different views on the abolition of the Control Yuan, we cannot allow these constitutional powers to have a vacuum period, and the personnel of the Control Yuan should be able to get on track.

Lin further explained the Control Yuan's role, noting its evolution from a public opinion body to one with quasi-judicial powers, including impeachment, censure, and correction of government officials. She acknowledged criticisms and differing views on the Control Yuan's performance and its very existence, suggesting that such fundamental questions should be addressed through formal constitutional amendment procedures. However, she stressed that as long as the institution exists, its personnel must be in place to fulfill its oversight responsibilities.

The issue is compounded by significant budget cuts to the Control Yuan. For instance, its operational budget for the upcoming fiscal year was slashed by 96%, and a substantial amount was frozen for the following year, impacting all commissioner appointments. Lin views these budget freezes and reductions as counterproductive, potentially hindering the Control Yuan's ability to function even more. She argued that instead of cutting funds, the focus should be on improving the institution's effectiveness and addressing any perceived shortcomings in its operations.

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The legislative budget cuts for the Control Yuan are likely due to doubts about its abolition and the ineffectiveness of its oversight functions. If the issue is the ineffectiveness of the Control Yuan's functions, then the focus should be on how to improve its powers. Cutting the budget further may make its functions even harder to perform.