All passengers who took Air Force One to attend President Chen Shui-bian's (
On Saturday, Chen and first lady Wu Shu-jen (
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) Saturday said that the Air Force One had changed into a "chartered plane for betrothals" and that Chen had used the national vehicle for personal use.
People First Party Spokesman Hsieh Kung-pin (
Regulations in place
In response to the pan-blue officials' questions, the Presidential Office's Department of Public Affairs yesterday issued a news release saying that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) had enacted regulations on the use of the president's chartered plane during Lee Teng-hui's (
According to the MND's regulations, the president and vice president must pay for flights that don't involve governmental affairs. Passengers invited by the president and vice president, or officials who are not on duty, also have to pay a fare for flights on the plane. The rates are in line with economy class fares of domestic airlines.
The regulations have been in place for years and both Lee and former vice president Lien Chan (
According to the news release, Chen said that the first family would pay all expenses and fares for Chen Chin-chung's engagement event, except for the president's security guards, who were performing their duty of protecting the head of state.
Although the vehicles used on Saturday were provided by National Security Bureau (NSB), the first family paid rental and fuel fees to the NSB's Special Service Command Center in accordance with prices charged by car rental companies.
Already paid
The first family has already submitted the money, along with the passenger roll, to the air force's Sungshan Base, which will turn the funds over to the state treasury.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun yesterday also defended the president, saying that Chen had made clear and definite orders before his son's engagement asking that all the details of the engagement ceremony be executed based on the related laws, and to the "highest standard."
"It was by no means a fact that the president abused his authority to accommodate his kinsfolk and friends for his only son's betrothal," Yu said. "If the pan-blues argue that fares for the president's special plane are too cheap, I suggest that they revise the regulations in the legislature."
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