TAKING A STAND:The TSU cited the poor performance of public servants in charge of economic affairs as a reason for the boycott
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would again boycott Premier Sean Chen’s scheduled report to the Legislative Yuan today, the parties said yesterday.
The TSU would occupy the podium on the legislative floor and boycott Chen’s report until Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-hsiang (施顏祥) and Council for Economic Planning and Development Minister Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘) are replaced, TSU Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) told a press conference.
Citing economic data, Huang said that Taiwan’s average monthly salary of NT$45,642 was much lower than South Korea’s NT$69,000 and Singapore’s NT$98,000 and was on the same level as 13 years ago.
He added that the long-term unemployment rate for university graduates was a shocking 42 percent and it took a college graduate an average of 6.9 months to find employment.
The poor performance of officials in charge of economic affairs, who were all experienced public servants, was unacceptable and was why the TSU insisted on the boycott, Huang added.
The TSU could have avoided a public relations disaster by staying mum on the sidelines, he said, “but we can’t because those people who are struggling to make ends meet are always on our mind.”
The DPP said it decided to support the boycott after a caucus meeting yesterday afternoon, but added it would take a “softer approach” to make its voice heard.
The DPP was caught in the middle of supporting its ally — the TSU — and drawing public outcry for resorting to the extreme measure once again, said a DPP legislator who wished to remain anonymous.
“We will probably express our view about the incompetent Cabinet and shout out slogans as protest, but that’s it,” he said.