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Lu denies misuse of allowance fund

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that she knew nothing about the alleged misuse of the special vice presidential allowance fund and asked investigators to launch an inquiry into how her predecessors used their funds.

When asked whether the leaking of a receipt to the media has anything to do with upcoming elections, she said "I don't know," adding that it was unfair to target any particular person.

"I have no idea why there is a receipt for pickles. I don't even know if it is my receipt," she said.

Even if there were such a receipt, Lu said that it had not come from her.

She said she had never overstepped her authority.

Lu made the remarks while taping an interview at a Taipei TV station yesterday afternoon. The interview was scheduled to be aired today.

The Presidential Office issued a statement yesterday afternoon, calling on the media to maintain its objectivity and refrain from interfering in elections.

The office said Lu rarely goes shopping and has never personally bought items for her household. She handles all funds in accordance with the Presidential Office's regulations, the statement said.

As the courts are now hearing the case of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) "state affairs fund," it only makes sense that the judicial system investigates how Lu's predecessors used their funds, the statement said.

Next Magazine has reported that it obtained copies of Lu's receipts for the allowance fund indicating that she had used money from the fund to purchase clothes and groceries at department stores, including a jar of NT$30 pickles and a NT$30 corn salad.

Meanwhile, Lu remained elusive about her presidential ambitions, saying that the public will know one way or another before the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) registration ends next Friday.

"But if I decide to run, I will make an all out effort," she said.

She emphasized that she is the only one of the Democratic Progressive Party's possible contenders who has experience governing the country, as well as being the one most capable of doing so.
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