A group of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators and Taipei City councilors filed a lawsuit against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) over a dispute surrounding the voting system to be used in the legislative elections and two referendums.
Leading five Taipei City councilors, DPP Legislator Kao Chien-chih (高建智) on Friday accused Wu and Hau of breaching Article 153 of the Criminal Code (刑法) for "inciting others to commit crimes or violate laws" by insisting on adopting a "two step" voting format in the Jan. 12 legislative elections and the two parallel referendums.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) adopted a one-step voting system on Nov. 16, but Wu said that 18 local governments controlled by the pan-blue camp objected to the scheme and would adopt a two-step format.
Taipei City Councilor Chuang Ruey-hsiung (
Chuang also accused Hau, in his capacity as Taipei mayor, of resisting the central government's order by saying that he would adopt two-step voting, thus breaking Article 134 of the Criminal Code.
At a separate setting, Legislative Speaker and KMT member Wang Jin-pyng (
The 2004 presidential election was held using the two-step voting system, he said, adding that he only sought to play a role as a fair third party, regardless of party affiliation.
Under the one-step voting system, voters will receive two ballots for the legislative elections and two for the referendums from two different desks. Each is to be cast into a separate box.
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