After an absence of two days, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Wuei-chou (林為洲) yesterday showed up at the Legislative Yuan to restate his intention to resign from the party.
The DPP said it hoped Lin would still support bills proposed by the party after he leaves.
"Loving Taiwan cannot sustain our lives. People have to wake up and live for themselves. Taiwan does not need revolution now. I urge everyone to quit political parties and go back to normal life," Lin said yesterday morning at a news conference in the Legislative Yuan.
"Don't act like politicians' fans anymore. Take back politicians' power. Stop watching provocative political call-in shows. I have made up my mind, and I will never again participate in any political caucus or party," Lin said.
In addition to airing his disappointment in the governing party, Lin said that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was no better than the DPP.
"It is ridiculous that KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) went to Taitung County and publicly campaigned for a candidate who is the ex-wife of a politician who has been involved in corruption and vote-buying," Lin said.
Lin said that when ousted Taitung County commissioner Wu Chun-li (吳俊立) was convicted of corruption and suspended from his post, Wu divorced his wife, Kuang Li-chen (鄺麗貞), to sidestep a restriction preventing a commissioner from selecting a relative or spouse as his or her deputy.
Kuang is now running for the Taitung County commissionership as a KMT candidate.
"But the most pathetic part is that so many people ignored Ma's actions and welcomed him with open arms," Lin said.
"People typically don't care about what is right and wrong, and are easily fooled by politicians," he said.
"Ma shows us what President Chen Shui-bian (
When asked if he would take part in a conference on party reforms initiated by younger DPP lawmakers, Lin said that he had no reason to attend that meeting.
Although DPP Chairman Yu shyi-kun, party lawmakers and grassroots supporters have all tried to dissuade Lin from resigning, he insisted his decision was final.
But not all DPP lawmakers were as understanding as the two legislative caucus whips. DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-fang (
"Lin's exit from the DPP shows he is a total politico. He is making his own political calculations," Tsai said.
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