Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) voiced his support yesterday for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to assume the party chairmanship after Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's resignation.
The call came after Yu offered to resign following his indictment -- along with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and National Security Council Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) -- on charges of corruption and forgery on Friday over his special allowance fund.
Yu was charged with claiming reimbursements worth NT$2.3 million (US$70,000) with 516 fraudulent receipts collected by his wife, Yang Pao-yu (
"It is true that the party would be stronger and better integrated in terms of campaign strategy if the president were the chairman," Su told reporters yesterday morning as he returned from St. Lucia, where he served as Chen's envoy.
DOUBLE
The DPP caucus on Saturday urged Chen to consider doubling as DPP chairman.
Yu, who was campaigning for the party in Toronto at the time, faxed his intended resignation late on Friday night, but added on Saturday that he would not leave his post until after the party's 21st anniversary and national congress, scheduled for Sunday.
Yu had said on Monday he would like to fulfill his responsibilities and oversee the holding of the two major events.
CRITICISM
This, however, drew criticism and speculation from DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (
Hsieh's camp has questioned the timing of the passing of the draft, fearing it could scare off voters.
Yu had begun seeking endorsement for a proposed amendment to a draft of the resolution passed by the DPP Central Executive Committee on Aug. 30, which only stated the party should correct the nation's name and write a new constitution as soon as possible.
Su yesterday cautioned Yu, saying that he should not be obstinate on the matter.
"Seeking normalization of the country and of the governmental system is the right approach, but this approach should be discussed through a democratic, collegiate system within the party rather than decided by an individual," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Office Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) declined to comment on a meeting between Chen Shui-bian and Yu at the Presidential office yesterday, saying it was a private matter between the two.
Yu, who entered the Presidential Office at approximately 10am, told reporters after the meeting that he and Chen had talked about the party's "normal country resolution" but had not discussed his resignation.
In addition to the resolution, Yu said they had talked about campaigning affairs concerning next year's legislative and presidential elections.
WHEELING AND DEALING? Hou You-yi, Ko Wen-je, Eric Chu and Ma Ying-jeou are under investigation for allegedly offering bribes for the other side to drop out of the race Taipei prosecutors have started an investigation into allegations that four top politicians involved in attempts to form a “blue-white” presidential ticket have contravened election regulations. Listed as defendants are Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲). The case stemmed from judicial complaints filed last month with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office alleging that the KMT (blue) and the TPP (white) had engaged in bribery by offering money or other enticements
COUNTER DISINFORMATION: More engagement and media literacy are needed to push back against misinformation and claims that the US is an unreliable partner, the AIT director said The US is “confident” that Taiwan does not face an imminent threat of a Chinese invasion, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk told a US public radio show, adding that Washington remains committed to defensively arming the nation. She made the comment during an interview on All Things Considered, broadcast on Friday on US-based National Public Radio. “There is an important distinction between making plans and training troops, and getting ready to do something,” Oudkirk said, on whether she thinks Beijing plans to attack Taiwan in the near future. Chinese officials have told Washington that “their preference is for peaceful reunification,
EXPOSED: Some Taipei wardens reported joining the trips out of peer pressure, while others said they were relieved it was made public so they could refuse, a city councilor said Nearly 30 percent of Taipei borough wardens have joined group tours to China that were partially funded by the Chinese government, leading prosecutors probing potential Chinese interference in January’s elections to question local officials, an investigation showed. Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City councilors Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) and Chen E-jun (陳怡君) have reported cases of Taipei borough wardens inviting residents to join inexpensive privately organized group tours to China that were partially funded by the Chinese government. The six-day trips reportedly cost NT$10,000 to NT$15,000, the councilors said. An investigation by the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) showed that nearly 30 percent
ELIGIBLE FOR JANUARY: All presidential candidates and their running mates meet the requirements to run for office, and none hold dual citizenship, the CEC said Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) is working with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to resolve issues with her financial disclosure statement, a spokesman for the candidate said yesterday, after the commission published the statements of all three presidential candidates and their running mates, while confirming their eligibility to run in the Jan. 13 election. Wu’s office spokesman, Chen Yu-cheng (陳宥丞), said the candidate encountered unforeseen difficulties disclosing her husband’s finances due to being suddenly thrust into the campaign. She is also the first vice presidential nominee to have a foreign spouse, complicating the reporting of
RSS