The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday approved its legislator-at-large list of candidates as well as some district legislators amid questions over several controversial figures.
Among the 28 legislator-at-large candidates, DPP Legislator Hsueh Ling (薛凌) was indicted for her involvement in an alleged loan scandal at Sunny Bank (陽信商銀).
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (
For his part, former DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun was indicted on charges of forgery and embezzlement over allegations of misuse of his "special allowance fund" during his term as premier.
Asked whether the controversial nominees would have a negative impact on the elections, Presidential Office Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) said yesterday that the candidates had been picked in accordance with the party's nomination process and approved by the Central Executive Committee.
DPP Deputy Secretary-General Liu Chien-hsin (劉建忻) said that indictment and conviction were not the same thing and urged the public to use the same standards when judging the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates.
"KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been indicted on graft charges and a KMT candidate for legislator-at-large is still serving time in jail," Liu said, referring to KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅), who is serving a 14-month prison term for violent conduct during a protest in front of the Kaohsiung District Court following the 2004 presidential election.
Yu avoided the question yesterday, saying it was not part of his plan to be a legislator-at-large and that he respected the party's selection mechanism.
Six more legislator-at-large candidates will be selected by the party's nomination committee. Among the 28 candidates already selected, 15 are women and 13 are men. The party said 12 to 15 candidates were on the "safe list."
The committee also agreed to recruit non-DPP members -- former KMT member Lee Sen-zong (李顯榮), former Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙), former TSU Legislator Huang Chung-yung (黃宗源) and independent Taipei County Councilor Chen Yong-fu (陳永福) -- to run in the legislative election.
The committee approved the nomination of Chen Hsiu-hui (
The committee also resolved to support the proposal of holding legislative and presidential elections in tandem with referendums and collecting election and referendum ballots together.
Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RSS