TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Presidential Office on Thursday announced 29 nominees for the Control Yuan, including candidates with ties to the KMT.
The office nominated pro-independence physician and former lawmaker Chen Yung-hsing (陳永興) for Control Yuan president and incumbent Control Yuan member Wang Jung-chang (王榮璋) for vice president, per PTS. Other notable nominees include former KMT lawmaker Liao Wan-ju (廖婉汝) and former New Taipei Deputy Mayor Hsieh Cheng-ta (謝政達), who served in New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih’s (侯友宜) administration.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), who hosted the nomination announcement, said President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) had invited political parties to recommend candidates, though none responded, per SETN. She emphasized that Control Yuan members must remain politically impartial and said the administration therefore did not use legislative caucus negotiations to determine the nominations.
Hsiao called on lawmakers to approach the confirmation process objectively, arguing that Lai selected candidates based on their qualifications. She added that although the DPP supports abolishing the Control Yuan, it will continue to maintain the institution’s constitutional functions until constitutional amendments are enacted, per NOWNews.
Chen is a prominent figure in Taiwan’s pro-independence medical community. He played a key role in efforts to facilitate a potential DPP-TPP coalition after the 2024 presidential election before negotiations collapsed, per UP Media.
While Chen remains close to Lai, his relationship with the TPP appears to have deteriorated following a public falling out with TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).
Wang’s nomination has drawn more criticism. During his current term on the Control Yuan, he investigated fewer cases than many colleagues and was viewed by some observers as less active on human rights issues than other members of the National Human Rights Commission.
Lai reportedly valued Wang’s communication skills when making the selection.
Regarding Hsieh’s nomination, a DPP source said Lai considered several KMT-aligned candidates before selecting him. Sources close to Hou denied recommending Hsieh directly but confirmed that Lai had invited Hou to submit candidate suggestions.
If lawmakers fail to confirm enough nominees to meet quorum requirements, the Control Yuan could be unable to review financial disclosures and political donation reports filed by elected officials. Such delays could affect preparations for local elections scheduled for November.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) praised the nominations, highlighting Liao and Hsieh as gestures of goodwill toward the opposition, per Mirror Media. TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍), however, reiterated the party’s position that the Control Yuan should be abolished, criticizing the DPP for continuing to operate an institution it has pledged to eliminate, per Storm Media.
The nominations of Liao and Hsieh also attracted attention within the KMT, whose rules require members to obtain party approval before accepting appointed positions in a non-KMT administration, per UDN. KMT spokesperson Chiang I-chen (江怡臻) said the party had been informed of the nominations in advance and would respect the autonomy of its legislative caucus.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said the caucus would discuss the nominations internally, seek consensus among lawmakers, and maintain communication with party leadership before determining its course of action, per UDN.
