A KMT official said yesterday that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) has violated party rules by sharing the stage with TSU legislative candidates, but said the party will wait for input from its rank-and-file before taking any action against its former chairman.
The statement made by Chen Kang-chin (陳庚金), director-general of the KMT's Evaluation and Discipline Committee, was the first time the party has voiced its stance on Lee's support of the party.
"Lee's campaigning for candidates of another party has seriously hurt the KMT. [However], the party will not be reckless in its consideration of whether and how to take disciplinary action. It will ensure the situation is tackled in accordance with due procedures," said Chen yesterday after Lee's second day stumping for the TSU.
Chen said he would convene a committee meeting today to discuss the matter, and that meetings will be held soon to forge a consensus among committee members. But he said the case would not be discussed at the party's Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Although the KMT has yet to decide if it will dismiss Lee, there appears to be a general consensus among party members that Lee should be expelled if he has no remaining feelings for the party.
"It is a stark reality that Lee is campaigning for another party. I don't understand why the KMT has been hesitant to resort to any punitive action. The disciplinary committee cannot continue to turn a blind eye to it," said KMT lawmaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), adding that she would launch a signature drive against Lee if the KMT fails to take action within two weeks.
Another party legislator, Apollo Chen (陳學聖), said that the public would doubt the KMT's ability to present party Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) as more charismatic and gutsy if the party continues to be evasive about Lee's deeds.
KMT lawmaker Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) said not punishing Lee would be unfair for Lin Yang-kang (林洋港) and Hau Pei-tsun (
Chen said the issue requires further deliberation as Lee was once party chairman.
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