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Ma-Wang Showdown:
Premier discusses impasse with Wang
FIRM STANCE: The DPP said it would not back down
from its stance that Jiang must offer an apology before he can deliver his
address to the legislature
By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff reporter
Democratic Progressive Party
legislators hold up signs in protest against Premier Jiang Yi-huah, drinking
water, back center, in the legislature yesterday. Jiang tried yesterday to
deliver a policy address, but was blocked by Democratic Progressive Party
legislators. Jiang failed to deliver his speech.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday said
he took the initiative to talk to Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) about
the month-long political impasse stemming from the allegations against Wang over
his alleged involvement in an undue influence case.
Jiang said the accusations made by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
against him alleging that he overstepped his executive parameters and infringed
on the legislature’s rights were not true because they were based on incorrect
media reports.
“I hope Speaker Wang understands and will disregard those allegations,” Jiang
said after his meeting with Wang.
Vice Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip
Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池), and Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chen Wei-jen (陳威仁)
were also present at the meeting.
It was the first time Jiang spoke with Wang since the Special Investigation
Division (SID) of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office accused Wang of improper
lobbying on behalf of DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) on Sept.
6.
The case, termed by the DPP “political vendetta” aiming to deprive Wang of
speakership, has evolved into a political storm as President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九),
Jiang, Prosecutor-General Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) and former Presidential Office
deputy secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) are being investigated for alleged
misconduct in pursuing the case.
Jiang has faced a boycott from the opposition of his policy report to the
legislature, originally scheduled on Sept. 17 when the current legislative
session began, after he rejected the request from the opposition to apologize
for his actions during the political turmoil.
Yesterday was the fifth time Jiang’s attempt to take the podium failed.
Huang said that the meeting between Jiang and Wang lasted about 20 minutes.
“Jiang sincerely thanked Wang for putting effort into breaking the impasse,”
Hung said.
Lin said that Wang proposed that the question-and-answer session where Jiang is
to deliver his policy report to the legislature and take questions from
lawmakers be pushed back by one month so the situation might cool down.
Jiang agreed to consider the option, Lin said, but he added that the KMT has
reservations about the idea.
“The question-and-answer session could be delayed indefinitely if the opposition
continues to boycott it,” Lin said.
Ker said yesterday that the DPP would not back down from its stance that Jiang
must first offer an apology, including for the SID conducting a wiretap on one
of the switchboards at the legislature, before he can take the podium.
Earlier yesterday, several DPP lawmakers, who spoke on the legislative floor
during the National Affairs Forum, lashed out at Jiang using strong language.
DPP Legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) called Jiang a “hypocrite.”
Jiang said in an interview with a radio station on Monday that he did not learn
of the SID’s findings of Wang’s case until Huang asked to meet with him on Sept.
4.
However, Jiang was contradicted by Ma who told another radio station on
Wednesday that he called a meeting involving Jiang and Lo right after Huang
briefed him of the case on Aug. 31.
“You were once a liberal academic. How come you become such a hypocrite? You
have lied to the people and won’t even apologize. I have no respect for you,”
Liu said.
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