Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智) yesterday said that they did not use any public funds during trips to different counties while campaigning for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates.
Opposition politicians have criticized Hsieh and Yao for "not staying neutral" after reports that the premier had asked the GIO to take care of transportation and lodging costs for reporters during the trips.
In addition, they said Hsieh was not supposed to be involved in campaign activities as he is the premier.
"If informing the press means that I am unable to stay neutral, then fine, I will not tell reporters about my future schedule," Hsieh said in response to the complaints.
"As for campaigning for my fellow DPP members, I think that is entirely acceptable because Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Hsieh was in Penghu and Pingtung counties yesterday to help local candidates. On Wednesday, the GIO forwarded a text message to reporters inviting them to cover the premier's trip, then added that the GIO would take care of transportation and lodging problems if there were any.
Yesterday morning, the KMT legislative caucus held a press conference to complain that the premier was not staying neutral and wasting public funds.
"My trip has nothing to do with my job. So of course I did not use any public money," Hsieh said. "Also, as a DPP member, it is only natural for me to help my own party's candidates."
The GIO later issued a press release saying that the only reason the GIO informed the press of the trip was to "serve" reporters so that they could do their jobs more efficiently and make plans in advance. It also said that no public funds were used for the premier's trip to Penghu and Pingtung.
Meanwhile, Yao traveled south to lend support to DPP Taichung mayoral candidate Lin Chia-lung (
Yao began his endorsal for Lin by comparing Lin to his competitor -- KMT Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
Yao said that Lin and Hu have doctoral degrees from renowned universities. And, he said, Hu has more experience in politics than Lin.
"But, look at Lin, he is healthier and more honest than Hu," Yao said, apparently referring to the controversial release of medical documents suggesting that Hu's health has suffered in recent years. "At least Lin never tries to hide anything from the public."
"New and fresh ideas initiate growth in a city. Taichung's people need a change, and they need a younger and healthier mayor to make that happen," Yao added.
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