Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators said yesterday their party membership had been suspended because they failed to raise enough money for the party.
Yu Tian (余天) and Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬), two DPP legislators from Taipei County, appeared not to have voted in the primary to choose the candidates for the party’s Taipei County councilor yesterday. Their offices said they had been suspended over fundraising matters.
DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said she had been suspended for not raising enough money.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) told reporters the party had asked its legislators to raise NT$500,000 annually for the party and that they would be suspended if they failed to collect the required amount.
“As far as I know, half of the DPP legislators have had difficulty gathering that amount and feel embarrassed,” Ker said.
He said that fundraising had become more difficult because the party’s political influence dwindled after it lost the presidential and legislative elections last year, adding that the economic downturn had dealt a significant blow to corporate donations.
“We all know the party needs money to operate and we will continue to work on that,” Ker said.
Chairperson Tsai Ing-Wen (蔡英文) requires NT$10 million (US$296,000) annually for the party, Ker said.
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