The KMT's disciplinary arm has again struck out at independent presidential candidate James Soong's (
Those named included seven legislators, two county and city council speakers and two National Assembly deputies.
The KMT's central standing committee is expected to pass the evaluation and disciplinary committee's recommendations in its weekly meeting Wednesday.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The action comes less than a month after the committee voted to expel Soong from the party, while suspending the memberships of six others.
Once the disciplinary action is approved, the KMT's legislative caucus membership will be reduced to 118 from 125 in a 225-seat house. Another lawmaker would be returning to the caucus, though, as Lin Chih-chia (
While 119 may look a thin majority, the KMT does not appear to be worried. Chien Wei-chang (
"If we have to worry that much, there is virtually nothing we can do," he said.
Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
DPP caucus leader Chen Chi-mai (
"In any case," Chen said, "voting behavior on the floor by those KMT lawmakers supporting Soong has never been as much of a group. Sometimes they even vote against each other. That's why their expulsion won't make much difference to the KMT."
The lawmakers who have been put up for expulsion are Liu Wen-hsiung (
All seven said yesterday they would continue supporting Soong in his bid for the presidency.
"The disciplinary action has had no effect on us, as we are thinking only about how to help Soong," Liu said at a press conference yesterday.
"We will take all the suppression from the KMT, and continue on our road to reform," Chou said.
When asked why they had not pre-empted their expulsion by quitting the party, the legislators sounded unanimous in declaring that it was not that they did not care for the party, but that the party was controlled by a "small bunch of people."
The real message being sent out by the party's upper hierarchy seems to be directed at those who are still wavering in openly declaring their support for Soong.
"We hope those who are still hesitating will refrain from supporting Soong," said Chien.
Political analysts agreed that it was clear why the action had been taken.
"It will serve as a warning to those who are still wavering, because if they are kicked out of the party, they will have to face a much more uncertain political future," said Lin Chia-lung (
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
DEMOGRAPHICS: Robotics is the most promising answer to looming labor woes, the long-term care system and national contingency response, an official said Taiwan is to launch a five-year plan to boost the robotics industry in a bid to address labor shortages stemming from a declining and aging population, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. The government approved the initiative, dubbed the Smart Robotics Industry Promotion Plan, via executive order, senior officials told a post-Cabinet meeting news conference in Taipei. Taiwan’s population decline would strain the economy and the nation’s ability to care for vulnerable and elderly people, said Peter Hong (洪樂文), who heads the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Department of Engineering and Technologies. Projections show that the proportion of Taiwanese 65 or older would
The government is considering polices to increase rental subsidies for people living in social housing who get married and have children, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. During an interview with the Plain Law Movement (法律白話文) podcast, Cho said that housing prices cannot be brought down overnight without affecting banks and mortgages. Therefore, the government is focusing on providing more aid for young people by taking 3 to 5 percent of urban renewal projects and zone expropriations and using that land for social housing, he said. Single people living in social housing who get married and become parents could obtain 50 percent more
RSS