Ruling Kuomintang lawmakers Wang Jin-pyng and Hung Hsiu-chu were elected president and vice president, respectively, of the ROC Legislative Yuan Feb. 1 in Taipei.
Wang and Hung beat Hsu Tain-tsair and Yeh Yi-ching of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party after garnering 77 percent of votes cast by 113 legislators.
Wang won by a vote of 68 to 43, whilst Hung came out on top with a 69-43 margin.
Following his election, Wang promised to strictly review budget bills, maintain parliamentary ties abroad, redouble efforts to construct a new building for the Legislature and protect ROC national security by passing exemplary laws.
“The Legislative Yuan will also cooperate with the Cabinet in combating the local impact of the European sovereign debt crisis,” he said.
If Wang completes his fifth term as president of the Legislature, he will be the longest-serving lawmaker to hold the post in the history of the ROC. The 17-year milestone will pass at the end of his four-year tenure in January 2016.
Wang’s deputy, Hung, made ROC history by being the first woman elected vice president of the Legislative Yuan.
It is important to respect and follow the rules of the Legislature, Hung said, adding that she will stick close to Wang and learn how to host a legislative session.
The KMT holds 64 seats out of 113 in the Legislature, the DPP 40 and its ally, Taiwan Solidarity Union, three. The People First Party, generally perceived to be pro-KMT, also has three seats, with the remainder controlled by independents. (JSM)