Taiwan legislative body reviews no-confidence motion

The legislative body of Taiwan on Monday held a meeting to review a no-confidence motion initiated by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against Jiang Yi-huah, chief of Taiwan's administrative authority.

Legislative body members will cast an open vote on the motion on Tuesday.

Taiwan's legislative body has 112 seats and if the motion wins half of the members' support, it will be passed. However, observers believe the chance may be slim as the ruling Kuomintang, resolved to defeat the motion, holds 65 seats while the DPP has only 40.

If the no-confidence motion fails, Jiang will be free from another motion for the next year.

The no-confidence motion was tabled last week by representatives from the DPP and another group that controls three seats at the legislative body. The DPP has accused Jiang for alleged involvement in "conspiring to create political battles, meddling in legislative affairs and illegal wiretapping."

However, also on Monday, Jiang and 38 chiefs from Taiwan's major administrative departments attended a press conference and refuted the DPP accusations as unfounded and "completely contrary to the truth."

Jiang said he respects the DPP's decision to file the motion but totally can not accept the arguments in its reasoning. He also expressed his worry about the current political standoff in Taiwan that may hold back the island's economic development and improvement of people's livelihoods.

Moreover, Jiang mentioned that he had been to the legislative body six times in an attempt to give his administrative address, but never made it because of the DPP representatives' filibuster manoeuvre.