Becoming a warning to all his fellow Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) National Assembly representatives, Academia Sinica fellow Chu Hung-yuan (
Chu voluntarily resigned yesterday after KMT representatives visited him on Saturday night regarding his recent comments opposing the constitutional amendment package negotiated in the legislature last August.
The resignation comes after a week of reportedly strained relations between him and the KMT over comments he made. Chu has said on several occasions to the press that he is against the amendment abolishing the National Assembly and the proposed revisions to the Referendum Law (公投法).
Public comments
Chu again expressed his original position when talking to various media representatives on Saturday.
While Chu said on Saturday that despite the difference of opinion between him and the party, he plans to vote in line with the party's position, the comments proved to be the last straw.
Explanation
"In yet another interview with the media, Professor Chu made some public comments that may have departed from the party's position. As a result, after Professor Chu came to have a greater understanding of the situation, he told us that the circumstances are different from what he had originally expected. But we also respect that Professor Chu has his own individual thoughts and ideals. As a result, he was willing to resign from the National Assembly," KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (
According to a statement released by the KMT yesterday, Cheng and KMT National Assembly caucus whip Chuang Lung-chang (
The KMT's National Assembly caucus supports Chu's decision, the statement read, and has initiated the procedures necessary to replace him.
Chu will be replaced by the next person on the KMT's original list of candidates for the National Assembly, Huang Kuo-rueh (黃國瑞).
In the statement, the caucus emphasized that if any KMT-affiliated National Assembly members should make comments or take actions that contradict the party's stance regarding the constitutional amendment package, then he or she will be disciplined by the party.
"All 117 of the KMT's votes will go into the ballot box as one," Cheng said.
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