The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received more than double the political contributions raised by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) last year, most the result of small, individual donation drives.
While more than half of KMT donations came from corporate contributions, only about 20 percent of the DPP’s contributions were attributable to corporations, forcing it to rely on personal donations.
With less than 90 days left before the special municipality elections, the Control Yuan yesterday released data on the funds received by political parties last year. The year saw a marked decrease in donations from 2008, a presidential election year.
The DPP received a total of NT$179 million (US$5.6 million) last year against total expenditures of about NT$174 million. Personal donations accounted for NT$120 million of the total, while businesses contributed NT$32 million and non-profit and anonymous donors another NT$18.4 million.
The DPP spent about NT$100 million on personnel and NT$14 million on subsidies for party candidates in last year’s local elections and legislative by-elections. It had NT$59 million left over in the party coffers at the end of last year.
Meanwhile, the KMT took in NT$75 million against total expenditures of NT$360 million. Its main sources of income were corporate donations, which accounted for NT$43 million, while personal donations totaled NT$30 million. Non-profit and anonymous donors contributed NT$2 million.
The party spent about NT$25 million on personnel and NT$300 million on supporting its local candidates last year. It had NT$13 million left over in its party coffers at the end of last year.
The release of the figures publicizing the KMT’s huge disparity in donations received and money spent came as a shock to DPP officials, who said people would start to question where the money came from.
“Looking at the figures, either the KMT didn’t accurately publicize its financial information, or it still has control over massive party assets, meaning that it doesn’t have to fundraise,” DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said.
The KMT denied the allegations, saying its finances were open and transparent. It said that in light of the higher contributions it received in the past year, the DPP should stop “pleading poverty.”
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS