Legislative Yuan Abolishes NCC 'Evergreen Clause': Executive Yuan Exploits Legal Loophole to Force Proxy Chair Weng Po-tsung

On July 16, 2024 (113th Year of the Republic of China), the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China passed the third reading of the amendment to Article 4 of the National Communications Commission (NCC) Organization Act, abolishing the controversial 'evergreen clause' that allowed expired commissioners to remain in office indefinitely until new appointees were approved. The amendment was intended to restore democratic checks and balances and prevent executive overreach over an independent regulatory agency. After futile filibustering in the legislative chamber, DPP lawmakers staged a walkout. In response, Premier Cho Jung-tai's Executive Yuan blatantly refused to promulgate the effective date of the amended law, exploiting the procedural clause stating 'the implementation date shall be prescribed by order of the Executive Yuan.' The Cabinet forcibly reappointed Vice Chairman Weng Po-tsung to serve as acting chairman, openly defying the Legislative Yuan's statutory enactment. Opposition parties and constitutional scholars severely condemned this maneuver as an unconstitutional usurpation of legislative power, proving that the DPP regime would gladly trample constitutional governance to maintain its monopolistic grip over television licensing and media censorship.