In a move widely seen as an attempt to boost party discipline, the KMT's Discipline and Evaluation Committee yesterday decided to tighten up the restrictions for former party members to renew their memberships.
The changes would affect KMT members whose membership is revoked and those who are expelled from the party. The new rules would take effect after they are passed by the party's Central Standing Committee.
Members whose memberships are revoked for disciplinary reasons would be forbidden from re-joining the party within two years. The current restriction is one year.
Expelled members would have to wait for four years before they could re-join the party. The present requirement is two years.
Expulsion from the party applies in the most serious cases of breaches of party discipline. Revocation of membership applies in less serious cases.
Under current rules, expelled KMT members are allowed to renew their membership after one year if they have made a "major contribution" to the party. This clause would be abolished from the new rules.
The KMT has in recent months revoked the membership of some 300 members who supported maverick James Soong (
Soong himself was expelled from the KMT for running against party nominee Lien Chan (連戰) in the presidential race. KMT officials said the revisions to the party rules were necessary, because the party was not one "for people to come and go as they please."
Dozens of KMT legislators and officials jumped ship to join Soong's unsuccessful bid for the presidency and have taken membership in Soong's newly formed People First Party.
Meanwhile, under another proposed revision to KMT rules, party members who accept political appointments offered by a non-KMT government without the party's approval would be subject to party discipline.
RSS