Taiwan News
Date: 2016-03-12
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The legislative speaker should not be involved in negotiations between the party caucuses, a Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker said Saturday.

Since the new DPP-dominated Legislative Yuan was sworn in on February 1, moves have been afoot for a thorough overhaul of the body. One of the proposals was making the speaker and his deputy more impartial and neutral.

The new holders of those positions, speaker Su Jia-chyuan and vice speaker Tsai Chi-chang, already promised they would not take part in political party activities or events and gave up their membership of key party bodies such as the DPP’s Central Standing Committee.

DPP legislator Su Chiao-hui went one step further on Saturday, suggesting the speaker and his deputy should not be involved in negotiations and talks between political party caucuses. Instead, the legislator in charge of the largest caucus should manage the talks, she said.

However, according to media reports, there was unease that her proposal might give too much power to the DPP’s already most senior lawmaker, chief whip Ker Chien-ming. Some comments said the change was being managed by the supporters of Su’s father, former Premier Su Tseng-chang.     [FULL  STORY]