Chinese language newspapers yesterday published a letter from Tainan City Mayor George Chang (張燦鍙), accusing President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of "possibly violating" the Election Law and saying he might file suit against the president.
"President Chen is not only the leader of the DPP, he is the head of state and should take more care in what he says," Chang wrote.
Chang, who is awaiting trial on corruption charges, is seeking re-election as an independent after being expelled from the DPP following his indictment for corruption in June.
Chang and his campaign staff have been incensed by remarks made by the president, including a quip that Chang doesn't stand a chance of re-election on Dec. 1.
Campaigning in Tainan last Saturday, Chen urged Mayor Chang, though he didn't directly name him, to put aside his personal differences with the DPP's mayoral candidate, Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財), who once quit the DPP to contest the 1997 mayoral election as an independent, and fully support Hsu's bid.
"Now that [you have] no chance [of being re-elected], let's not waste votes," Chen said at a campaign rally, "Let bygones be bygones. Let's all act in a democratic manner and unite together to help Hsu to get elected."
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