The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday that the government is “on the verge of collapse,” citing a string of poorly handled legal cases and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration’s poor performance on the economy, and demanded a Cabinet reshuffle.
“The judiciary has only gone after pan-green politicians and turned a blind eye toward pan-blue politicians, ignored those cases that should have been investigated and carelessly handled the fabricated cases,” DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said.
During the past month, Su said, Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chi-fen (蘇治芬), DPP deputy secretary-general Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) and former DPP secretary-general Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) have all been cleared of wrongdoing in corruption cases.
Meanwhile, prosecutors dismissed a corruption case centering around rock musical Dreamers (夢想家), which celebrated the centenary of the Republic of China and cost NT$215 million (US$7.15 million), as well as the role of Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), who served as premier, in the so-called Yu Chang case, Su said.
The investigation into former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih’s (林益世) corruption case has been too slow and many people have begun to question the prosecutors’ motives, he added.
Additionally, the Control Yuan, which represents one of five separate powers in the Constitution, has become a “hired thug” to repress the opposition, he said, referring to the Control Yuan’s insistence on investigating former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who was accused of improprieties in the establishment of Yu Chang in 2007, but was cleared of wrongdoing last month.
“None of the prosecutors who abused their powers were held accountable and several branches of government have been dysfunctional. I would say this government is on the verge of collapse,” Su said. “All branches of government have failed to carry out their constitutional duties and meet people’s expectations. This is a bad omen and a precursor of a major collapse of government.”
Separately yesterday, the DPP filed a new complaint over the Dreamers case to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division, demanding the prosecutors reopen their investigation of former Council of Cultural Affairs minister Emile Sheng (盛治仁), Ma and Wu.
“We think the government officials obviously violated the Government Procurement Act (政府採購法) and leaked confidential information in the bidding process of the rock musical,” DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said.
DPP lawyer Huang Di-ying (黃帝穎) said that according to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on Tuesday, Taiwan Association of Theater Technology (TATT, 台灣技術劇場協會), which won a contract in the case, knew confidential information about the public bidding, but prosecutors did not look into who leaked the confidential information to the TATT, he said.
Additional reporting by Rich Chang
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS