Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday gave his support to the latest proposal for handling Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng’s (王金平) party membership spat via the KMT’s Integrity Committee, urging Wang to appeal to the committee and resolve his rift with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Amid efforts to end the impasse between Ma and Wang over Wang’s alleged improper lobbying, Wu reiterated his call for Wang to retain his membership via the Integrity Committee, half of whom are non-KMT members who could be expected to handle the case impartially.
“The Integrity Committee is a good platform to resolve the issue, and I am willing to act as a conciliator for [Ma and Wang] and enhance mutual trust between them,” he said.
Wu’s comments came amid KMT efforts to resolve the spat between Ma and Wang and promote party unity ahead of Double Ten National Day today.
Ma, who is also the KMT chairman, last week encouraged Wang, whose membership was revoked by the KMT last month, to seek an appeal with the party to clarify his alleged improper lobbying and retain his membership despite Wang’s announcement that he will not do so.
Wang won a lawsuit against the KMT earlier this month after the Taiwan High Court rejected the KMT’s appeal of a Taipei District Court injunction to preserve Wang’s party membership amid controversy over a probe into alleged improper lobbying for Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘).
The KMT said it will not appeal the court’s decision.
Ma and Wang will both attend Double Ten National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office Building this morning. It will mark the first time the two have met since the political strife erupted last month.
The event’s organizing committee said seating arrangements would be the same as in previous years, with first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) sitting between Ma and Wang.
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