Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday resigned as chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) after appointing Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) as acting chairman.
Ko made the announcement at an emergency meeting of the TPP Central Standing Committee days after the Taipei District Court released him from pretrial detention on bail of NT$70 million (US$2.14 million).
Ko is embroiled in a legal battle over corruption allegations from his time as Taipei mayor in connection to the Core Pacific City Co (京華城購物中心) redevelopment project. If convicted, he would face up to 28 years and six months in prison.
Photo courtesy of the Taiwan People’s Party
TPP Taichung chapter head Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) told reporters that Ko quit as party chairman, but would remain a volunteer and a member for life.
“The spirit of Ko will forever stay in the party,” Chiang said.
The committee members accepted the former leader’s resignation in tears, Chiang said, adding that Ko was similarly choked with emotion in rejecting a motion to make him an honorary chairman.
The party would not benefit from engaging in empty gestures, he quoted Ko as saying.
The committee confirmed Huang’s nomination in a unanimous decision of 14 to zero, with the nominee himself being the only member to abstain, Chiang said, adding that he was the first to raise a hand to back Huang.
Chiang urged TPP supporters to understand that Ko was “forced” into the decision, which he made out of love for the party.
“If the party should fall, so would Ko,” he said.
The TPP expects an uphill battle in the local elections next year, as Ko’s departure from leadership might trigger a loss of support, Chiang said, adding that the party would do its best to persuade voters.
“I am confident that Ko would come back by the front door, so every party member who believes in Ko’s innocence should support the committee’s decision,” he said.
Later yesterday evening, the Taiwan High Court again vacated the ruling allowing Ko to post bail, sending the matter back to the Taipei District Court.
The Taipei District Court is expected to hold a third-time bail hearing today to decide whether Ko would be returned to pretrial detention.
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