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Lu calls for transparent campaigns

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), one of the contenders for the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) nomination for next year's presidential election, yesterday called on her three competitors to be transparent about their campaign funds, including any public resources used for campaigning.

Lu, who ran a half-page advertisement in yesterday's Chinese-language China Times, told reporters in Taipei County that the public, including the party's presidential hopefuls, had the right to ask the aspirants to be transparent in their use of campaign funds and public resources, which should be scrutinized publicly.

"If they want to use the money for personal purposes, they should take it from their own pockets," she said.

Lu was referring to criticism from DDP and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators of Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).

DPP Legislator Hsieh Hsin-ni (謝欣霓) suspected that Su, one of the DPP's presidential hopefuls, had paid seven TV stations a total of NT$900,000 (US$28,125) to produce programs promoting government policies.

Hsieh enjoys a close relationship with former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), who is also vying for the DPP's nomination for the presidential election.

KMT legislators including Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) and Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) have also said Su was not impartial because he used public resources for his presidential bid.

The Chinese-language United Daily News estimated that Cabinet agencies had spent NT$30 million to NT$40 million printing pamphlets promoting government policies and buying air time to promote achievements made under Su's leadership.

Lu said she had paid for the newspaper advertisement with her own money and with some donations from supporters.

The ad, titled "Together we create Taiwan's pride and happiness," said that a "different Annette Lu" was bound to "create a different Taiwan."

Meanwhile, Lu explained the reason why she declined to attend a TV debate organized by a pro-independence group on Saturday, saying she simply could not attend all the events organized by different private groups.

However, she said she would participate in debates organized by the DPP. The four contenders agreed on Monday that the party would hold at least two public debates, scheduled for April 14 and April 28, to give the candidates a chance to make their positions public.
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