TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Wednesday pledged to submit the government’s list of Central Election Commission nominees to the legislature before the end of November.
During a legislative questioning session, Cho noted that the CEC currently has only four active members and needs seven new appointees to fill vacancies, per Storm Media. CEC Interim Chair Wu Jung-hui (吳容輝) said the commission cannot operate with fewer than five active members.
Cho said the government is seeking recommendations from across the political spectrum.
The TPP announced its own nominees, recommending Soochow University Professor Su Tzu-chiao (蘇子喬) and National Chengchi University Professor Chiang Min-hsiu (江明修).
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said Su brings government and academic experience, while Chiang is well regarded in nongovernmental and academic circles for his work in public administration, per Newtalk. Huang commended President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration for consulting the opposition and urged the government to prioritize independence and professionalism in the selection process.
The KMT put forward four nominees: Fooyin University Professor Su Jia-hong (蘇嘉宏), Shih Hsin University School of Management Dean Jiang Min-qin (江岷欽), China University of Science and Technology Interim Principal Lee Li-chung (李禮仲), and Chinese Association for Human Rights Chair Kao Su-po (高思博), who is also a cousin of former KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫). The KMT said that all its nominees except Lee are party members, per Knews.
The KMT criticized former CEC Chair Li Chin-yung (李進勇), accusing him of acting as an agent of the DPP during his tenure, a criticism also echoed by Huang.
After leaving the CEC, Li’s DPP membership was automatically reinstated, drawing further backlash from the opposition. KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) argued that the speed of the reinstatement validated doubts about Li’s impartiality, per UDN.
Li explained that the reinstatement was automatic under the party’s system and said he had not personally requested it, per Tai Sounds. Li was nominated as CEC chair in 2019, following his unsuccessful run for Yunlin County magistrate in the 2018 local elections, per ETtoday.
His nomination faced opposition at the time, with critics arguing his political affiliation made him unsuitable for the position. The DPP, holding a legislative majority, ultimately approved his appointment.
