The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday elected 32 members of its Central Standing Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, amid accusations of bribery.
Former KMT legislator Hong Yu-chin (洪玉欽) topped the list with 1,099 votes in yesterday’s election, while 13 seats went to KMT legislators, including Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順), Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) and Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊櫻).
Incumbent members including former KMT chairman Lien Chan’s (連戰) son, Taipei EasyCard Corp chairman Sean Lien (連勝文), Taipei City Councilor Lai Su-ru (賴素如) and KMT Legislator Hou Tsai-feng (侯彩鳳) were re-elected, while KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) was elected for the first time.
Several of Ma’s long-time aides, including KMT legislators Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) and Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), did not seek re-election, leaving only two on the committee: Lai Su-ru and Taipei City Councilor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華).
The competition was intense, with the influence of the committee expected to grow once President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) takes over as party chairman on Saturday.
Forty-six candidates vied for the seats, with more than 1,000 party delegates casting votes around the country.
KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) acknowledged that there had been complaints of bribery by some candidates in the race. He promised to take action against anyone found to have bribed delegates.
“The KMT is collecting evidence and will not tolerate it if anyone is found to have paid bribes,” he said.
Some of the candidates had accused the KMT’s Evaluation and Disciplinary Committee of indulging the bribers.
The director of the disciplinary committee, Juan Kang-meng (阮剛猛) said the party took the allegations seriously and that any elected member found to have bought votes would lose his or her seat.
The accusations include offering cash and gifts such as moon cakes and tea sets, and holding lunch and dinner parties for KMT delegates.
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