A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator yesterday accused the Presidential Office of misusing public money by using it to publish books about President Chen Shui-bian (
"They produced five publications," KMT Legislator Chiang Lien-fu (
"The 31,000 copies cost the public NT$5.5 million [US$168,504]," Chiang said.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chiang was referring to books about Chen's overseas visits, Chen's inspection tours around the country, two books covering Wu's overseas trips and one featuring Lu's experiences of being vice president.
"If the publications were for the purpose of publicizing the government's achievements, then they should have been widely distributed to the public, but the fact is that only selected people received the copies," Chiang said.
Chiang used, as an example, Lu's English-language book Soft Power, saying it was sent to staff of various government departments.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Chin-jun (
Noting that KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
The Presidential Office yesterday said the overseas trips conducted by the first lady and the vice president were for the benefit of the country, rather than for their own benefit.
Regarding the budgets used to publish the books deputy Presidential Office spokesman Cho Chun-ying (
Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling
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