President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who also doubles as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), yesterday said he would eliminate the tradition of bribery ahead of the Central Standing Committee (CSC) election next month and demanded that all candidates follow new regulations despite protests by some members.
“The practice of sending gifts, as seen in previous committee elections, had a negative impact on the party’s image. Society and the media are watching us … We have no other choice but to correct our election campaign manners,” Ma told the closing ceremony of the party convention in Taipei.
Ma said the KMT was determined to implement the regulations despite opposition by some party delegates and committee candidates who said the rules were “unreasonable.”
Seeking to improve the image of the party prior to the CSC election on Sept. 18, the KMT’s Evaluation and Discipline Committee approved the latest version of the regulations on CSC election campaign matters in May, banning all kinds of bribery, including hosting banquets and sending gifts. Candidates who violate the regulations face losing their party membership.
The party tightened the regulations after it stumbled in its efforts to handle serious bribery in last year’s CSC election.
Amid accusations that the election for seats on the decision-making body was marred by bribery, the KMT revoked the election status of two members who had sent gifts to party delegates, while holding a re-election after all elected members had resigned.
Seeking to prevent the same problems this year, the party prevented a campaign official working for committee member Chiu Fu-sheng (邱復生) from sending gift sets of pickled eggs, which cost about NT$30 per box, to party delegates.
Irritated by the move, many party delegates and committee candidates expressed their opposition in front of Ma and KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰).
“Is it wrong to invite delegates or friends for dinner when they visit?” asked Lee Hsian-te (李賢德), a party delegate from Tainan City.
Several party delegates joined Lee in accusing the KMT of being too strict.
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