Following the Formosa Alliance’s transition into a political party last week, people close to former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) are working to establish another pro-Taiwanese independence party.
Founding members of the “One Side, One Country Action Party” yesterday said that they have applied to the Ministry of the Interior to register as a political party, adding that they expect the party to be officially established next month.
The party’s objective is to nominate candidates for the legislative election on Jan. 11 next year to provide checks and balances at the legislature, the members said.
Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei Times
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) performance with regards to pushing a constitutional reform to rectify the nation’s official title has been disappointing and the party hopes to send “pro-Taiwan” candidates to the Legislative Yuan, they said.
They have asked former premier Yu Shyi-kun to be the party’s chairman and are awaiting his reply, the members said.
Chen on Facebook on Thursday said that he expects the party to be officially established next month “if the ruling party does not thwart or obstruct” the effort.
Chen cited two reasons for the party’s establishment: “First, the voice that says Taiwan and China are two separate countries cannot be silenced at the legislature, as it is a path that the nation should pursue,” he said.
Second, checks and balances are crucial for a democracy, and they can only be achieved by an opposition party, he said, giving an alleged smuggling attempt by China Airlines and National Security Bureau officials as an example of a lack of checks and balances.
Chen was sentenced to a 20-year jail term for corruption, but was granted medical parole in January 2015 after being diagnosed with illnesses including sleep apnea, suspected Parkinson’s disease and osteoporosis.
He did not participate in the new party’s establishment, but is viewed as its “spiritual leader,” a source from the nascent party said.
Chen initially opposed the idea of forming a pro-independence party, but now welcomes it, sources said.
Asked if the party would support President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) re-election bid, the sources said it would, as the DPP is a “local administration,” but added that if some supporters are reluctant to vote for the DPP again, that would be totally understandable.
The new party is setting its sights on the legislative — rather than the presidential — election, the sources said.
However, Chen’s son, DPP Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), is reserved about the party’s establishment, saying the move might be “untimely.”
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
RSS