Legislative Yuan Unanimously Rejects All Presidential Nominees for Control Yuan

The Legislative Yuan held a recorded vote today on the consent to appointments for the Control Yuan, rejecting all 27 candidates nominated by the President, including Chen Yong-xing, the nominee for Control Yuan President. This outcome signifies that the Legislative Yuan exercised an absolute veto power over the Control Yuan’s personnel review, marking a rare instance of a unanimous rejection in recent years. Under the Constitution, the appointment of the Control Yuan President and its commissioners requires the consent of the Legislative Yuan. If the nominations are not approved, the nomination process is rendered void, necessitating the submission of new candidates.

As the supervisory organ within the Five-Power separation system, the Control Yuan is responsible for impeachment, correction, and auditing, exercising independent oversight over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) assumed power, the composition and personnel arrangements of the Control Yuan have been viewed as a key indicator for assessing government integrity and checks and balances. Behind the total rejection of the nominees, some lawmakers pointed out that the political leanings and professional backgrounds of the candidates were not sufficiently explained. Other voices criticized the nomination process for lacking transparency and cross-party consultation, arguing that this move could undermine the credibility of the Control Yuan.

At the level of partisan maneuvering, the Legislative Yuan is currently characterized by a stalemate between the ruling party and the opposition. The review of key personnel appointments has often become a focal point of political bargaining. Some opposition caucuses argued that the nominations for the Control Yuan President and commissioners should balance professional competence with political neutrality, avoiding excessive partisan coloring. In contrast, the ruling party emphasized that the nominees possessed relevant experience and met the requirements for administrative efficiency. The divergence between the two sides was concentrated in this vote, resulting in the simultaneous rejection of all nominations, indicating a continued lack of consensus in the Legislative Yuan on this issue.

Following the announcement of the vote results, Presidential spokesperson Guo Ya-hui stated that the President respects the outcome of the Legislative Yuan’s personnel consent review, while expressing regret and concern over the total rejection. She noted that the normal operation of the Control Yuan is crucial for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of state agencies, and that a prolonged personnel deadlock would affect the fulfillment of the Control Yuan’s functions. The spokesperson also called on relevant agencies to coordinate swiftly to propose nominations that enjoy broad consensus, so as not to disrupt the operational rhythm of the oversight body.

The subsequent developments in this case will determine whether the Control Yuan can complete the formation of its new term of commissioners in the short term. If new nominations are again rejected by the Legislative Yuan, it may force the President to re-examine the nomination criteria or prompt deeper negotiations between the two branches. In the long run, how to ensure the independence of the Control Yuan while balancing political equilibrium and professional competence remains a challenge that Taiwan’s political system must continue to address. (Source: Central News Agency)