KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The leaders of the Olbiil Era Kelulau are scheduled to meet and discuss President Tommy Remengesau’s reorganization action.
Senate President Seit Andres said the OEK, Palau’s national legislature, will discuss its next move after it passed Senate Resolution 6-53 which condemned Remengesau’s Executive Order 203.
The order reorganizes certain executive branch offices, but legislators said this was an “invasion” of the doctrine of separation of powers.
Andres said the OEK will discuss whether to push through with its plan to seek legal remedy to correct the president’s “unconstitutional action.”
Remengesau, in a letter to Andres, said he did not commit any unconstitutional act since he carefully considered the Constitution and the laws of Palau before he issued the order.
The OEK said Remengesau should not have assumed legislative powers by issuing an executive order that “conflicted with the existing statutes.”
The order aims to streamline the executive branch by eliminating several bureaus and divisions, which is expected to save the government $480,000.
Remengesau said his order should not be made into a political issue.
He said the OEK should instead tackle the more pressing issues facing Palau.
