The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced that it would strip five city councilors of their party affiliation after they failed to vote for DPP nominees in last weekend’s speakership elections.
Three councilors in Greater Tainan and one each in Greater Kaohsiung and New Taipei City (新北市, the proposed English name of the upgraded Taipei County), including Adrean Lee (李婉鈺), were disciplined at a meeting of the party’s Central Standing Committee.
Calling the decision difficult “but necessary,” DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said that the move, which could impact the councilors’ re-election bids in 2014, was made to deter any future instances of runaway votes against the party’s official nominee.
HUANG SPARED
Another DPP councilor, Huang Shu-mei (黃淑美) of the Greater Kaohsiung Council, saw her party rights suspended. Party officials decided not to expel her after new findings showed that she voted for the official nominee in the second round.
The expulsion of Lee, who tabloid magazines had accused of involvement in an adultery scandal earlier this month, came one day after she tearfully announced her own departure from the party.
She claimed she voted for herself by accident, saying that she was too nervous.
‘UNSURPRISING’
Reached for a comment, she called the decision “regrettable, but unsurprising,” adding that she would respect the verdict despite originally being a lifelong member of the party.
DPP officials said that she would be barred from rejoining the party for at least five years.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
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