The DPP legislative caucus yesterday proposed to put the revisions of the laws governing publicly elected officials on top of the agenda in a bid to drive the Kaohsiung City councilors who were involved in a vote-buying scam out of office.
Despite the fact that nearly 30 Kaohsiung councilors were discovered to be associated with the vote-buying scandal last December, they can continue to serve in their posts until they have been found guilty in three separate trials.
The council's new session will start on March 31 but neither the speaker or the vice speaker will be available. Both have been detained for buying votes in the Dec. 25 election last year.
Prior to the session, the DPP lawmakers seek to demonstrate the government's resolve on reform by calling for amendments to the Law on Local Government Systems (
Under the existing laws, public representatives can be recalled only after they have been at their post for longer than one year, and their duties must be suspended only if they are found guilty by the court during a third trial.
DPP Legislator Lawrence Gao (高志鵬) said they believed the recalling of these officials is the only way to prevent the Kaohsiung City Council from being a "black gold council."
He said that officials should be recalled and their duties suspended once they are prosecuted for being involved with conduct such as treason or corruption.
DPP Legislator Chen Jin-chun (
He urged the councilors involved in the case to resign, and for the opening to be postponed.
If these measures are ineffective, the lawmaker said the councilors should be barred from getting paid and their voting rights should be suspended.
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