TSU says recall plan `misses the point'

A KMT motion to recall the controversial newly elected head of the Kaohsiung City Council drew criticism yesterday from TSU lawmakers who said the proposal "misses the point" given that the KMT has failed to address the real issue of vote-buying.

The TSU legislators said that the KMT and PFP, if their desire to reform is genuine, should chastise their members who voted for Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄) in Wednesday's election rather than amend the law so as to have Chu dismissed.

"The problem at hand does not hinge on recall but on the voting process," TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said.

"The urgent task left for the KMT and PFP is not to dismiss Chu, but to figure out why their members voted in favor for him."

The two pan-blue parties have been rushing to mend their image after Wednesday's election in which Chu, who is being prosecuted for allegations of bribery and tax evasion, was elected council speaker by the parties' city councilors.

Accusations are flying that Chu and independent Tsai Song-hsiung (蔡松雄), the newly elected vice speaker, were buying votes prior their appointments.

Reports said a vote for Chu could fetch NT$10 million while a vote for Tsai could net NT$5 million.

Outraged by the election result, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on Thursday initiated a bill to recall Chu -- a move that can't be carried out under current regulations.

In related news, Taipei City councilors filed a lawsuit against TSU Legislator Su Ying-kwei (蘇盈貴) for claiming that only one out of the 14 DPP councilors did not take bribes from Chu.

The councilors filed the suit at the Kaohsiung Prosecutors' Office, saying Su had abused his immunity as a lawmaker to harm the DPP's image.

Su on Wednesday told the media that 13 DPP city councilors rushed to return money to Chu a few hours before the election after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) vowed to penalize any city councilor who supported Chu.