NCC: Pan-Blue Coalition Urges Swift Nomination of Professional, Neutral Candidates

Taipei, Taiwan (CNA) - Chen Chung-shu, acting chairperson of the National Communications Commission (NCC), and commissioners Wang Cheng-chia and Wang Yi-hui will see their terms expire on July 31. The Kuomintang (KMT) caucus stated today that it urges the Executive Yuan to promptly nominate professional and neutral candidates, and the Legislative Yuan will rigorously review them. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said that if the NCC commissioners all leave, it will severely impact the rights and interests of businesses and the public, and hopes the opposition parties will carefully consider this.

According to a report by the Liberty Times today, the National Communications Commission (NCC) currently has four vacancies out of seven commissioner positions. Three current commissioners will see their terms expire at the end of July. If the Executive Yuan fails to nominate candidates and have them approved by the Legislative Yuan, the commission could face a complete vacancy. The NCC stated that in the past, when commissioners were not in the majority, internal operating guidelines were revised to allow the "Advisory Committee of Commissioners" to decide on matters such as the review of imported radio frequency equipment. However, if there are no commissioners in the future, the commission will be unable to operate.

KMT Legislative Yuan caucus chief deputy secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen said in an interview that according to law, the Executive Yuan should have submitted NCC commissioner candidates for review by the Legislative Yuan by the end of April. However, the DPP is best at creating a political crisis first and then shifting all the blame to the opposition parties.

Hsu Yu-chen pointed out that the Executive Yuan has not yet submitted candidates, and it is unclear whether they cannot find professional and neutral candidates, or if they only want to find candidates with a pro-green leaning, or if the Executive Yuan believes NCC commissioners are dispensable, hence the delay in nominations.

Hsu Yu-chen stated that the KMT caucus urges the Executive Yuan to promptly nominate professional and neutral candidates. The Legislative Yuan will conduct a strict review. As long as the candidates are qualified, professional, and neutral, the KMT caucus will certainly approve them. Conversely, if the DPP continues with political maneuvering to slander the opposition parties, the KMT caucus will not easily tolerate it.

Taiwan People's Party Legislative Yuan caucus convener Chen Ching-lung pointed out that during his first interpellation after taking office, he made suggestions to Premier Cho Jung-tai regarding NCC candidates. The Executive Yuan has yet to nominate candidates to this day, and the responsibility lies with the Executive Yuan.

DPP Legislative Yuan caucus secretary-general Chuang Jui-hsiung said that it is acceptable for opposition parties to supervise the executive branch and make things difficult for them. However, if an entire constitutional organ is paralyzed, it involves national governance and the rights and interests of the people, and it is irreparable.

Chuang Jui-hsiung said that taking the NCC as an example, if all commissioners eventually leave, how will new media be reviewed? This involves the rights and interests of businesses and the public, and will be severely impacted. If the pan-blue and pan-white coalitions, due to their numerical advantage, paralyze the entire executive agency, that is certainly political maneuvering. Regarding national governance, he hopes the opposition parties will carefully consider that excessively strong and destructive actions are actually a disaster for the nation. (Edited by Su Lung-chi) 0707