The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) today said it would not appoint an interim chairperson, after it extended Chairman Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) leave for another three months as he remains under investigation for alleged corruption.
Ko on Aug. 29 announced he was going to take a three-month leave of absence from his role as party chairman, with the period set to expire on Nov. 29.
He has been in detention since Sept. 5 as prosecutors investigate a case involving alleged preferential treatment given to Core Pacific Group in a redevelopment project while Ko served as Taipei mayor.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
On Nov. 1, the Taipei District Court approved a request to extend Ko’s detention for another two months until Jan. 5.
Prosecutors can apply to hold suspects incommunicado for up to two months at a time — for a maximum of four months — as an investigation is conducted.
The TPP today held a central committee meeting to discuss extending Ko’s leave of absence.
Party spokeswoman Celina Wu (吳怡萱) told reporters after the meeting that all 14 committee members agreed to extend his leave until Feb. 28.
In the meantime, party affairs would continue to be run by an emergency response team comprised of three party members, she added.
The party charter states that the committee shall work together to lead the party in the event of the chairperson’s absence.
If the current chairperson still has more than a year left in their term, the charter says the party should hold an election within six months of their absence for someone to take their place for the remainder of their term.
Asked whether this means there is a six-month limit to a leave of absence, committee member Lee Wei-hwa (李偉華) said the charter does not specify any time limit.
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