Taipei City Councilor Tuan Yi-kang (
DPP Councilor Tuan told reporters at a press conference that he accepted Jeng Tsuen-chi's
Tuan also stipulated that at least three judges, all legal experts, must arbitrate the debate.
Sept. 13 has been tentatively set as the day for the debate -- one day before the City Council convenes its next session.
During the last council session, Tuan questioned Ma about the bureau's right to draw on the fund. Tuan denounced "Jeng's autocratic approach to decision making" and called him an "abuser of power," remarks which Jeng strongly rejected and said he found offensive.
Upon learning of Jeng's initial challenge, Tuan said, he was first shocked by the bureau chief's "childish" behavior but that later his shock turned to anger.
"It's normal in a democracy for a councilor to scrutinize the work of city officials. If he finds my interpellation personally offensive, he should seek legal remedies. If he thinks there is a necessity for him to offer further explanation, he could do it in the next council session," he said.
Tuan said although resignation did "not make much sense" to him he was "politically obliged" to accept the offer. He said he even had his resignation letter ready and signed, just in case.
"I don't see why I should lose," he said. "I'm willing to accept whatever decision is made by the panel of legal experts. If I am unfortunate enough to lose, the incident will serve as a lesson to me."
Win or lose, he said, he will make Ma pay.
"What really annoys me is that Ma allows such dictatorial and autocratic behavior from his subordinate," he said.
Ma publicly endorsed the debate last week and privately gave Tuan his approval on Monday night. Tuan said that Ma's readiness to express his approval caused him to suspect the mayor's motives.
"I suspect Ma gave his approval so quickly because he dislikes both Jeng and me and wants to get rid of us both," he said.
Jeng later told TV reporters that the quality of interpellation at the city council was bound to improve if Tuan resigned, adding that it was not in the interests of Taipei residents for a city official to be abused by a city councilor, he said.
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