Amid vote-buying accusations from the pan-blue camp, the legislature meets today to elect a new legislative speaker and deputy speaker.
The opposition alliance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), People First Party (PFP) and the New Party yesterday vowed to impose disciplinary measures on party members who do not support incumbent Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday confirmed its support for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate, Legislator Ker Chien-ming (
PHOTO: CHOU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Ker will name his running mate today.
The Non-Partisan Solidarity Union yesterday said it would support the Wang-Chung ticket. TSU caucus whip Huang Tsung-yuan (
"The TSU's 12 lawmakers will cast their votes for Ker. Those refusing to toe the party line will receive the most severe punishment," Huang told reporters after a caucus meeting.
Citing media reports, KMT Chairman Lien Chan queried whether the DPP had been involved in vote-buying.
Rumors have circulated that the DPP offered bribes to opposition lawmakers to support the DPP ticket. KMT Legislator Lee Chuan-chiao (
Lee said his colleagues had heard that the DPP was attempting to bribe opposition lawmakers in order to secure an election victory for Ker, but he provided no evidence to back the allegations.
PFP Legislator Shen Chih-huei (沈智慧), who had expressed interest in running for deputy speaker and was rumored to be preparing to defy her party, yesterday visited Wang and Chung in a show of support.
"I'm afraid that if I don't come out now to show my support for them, the public will misunderstand me," she said. "It's clear enough who I'll vote for, since I'm here today."
New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (
"We don't have problems of discipline. All four of our lawmakers will join the KMT caucus and pave the way for a future merger of the KMT, the PFP and the New Party," he said at a press conference.
Except for Wu Cheng-tien (
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