Some Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members are in disagreement about DPP Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) — who allegedly tried to mislead phone polls and is facing corruption charges — who continues to seek to be the party’s nomination for next year’s Kaohsiung mayoral election.
Lin at a rally on Saturday in Kaohsiung’s Gangshan District (岡山) said that she had solid support and that she is the best candidate.
The turnout, about 30,000 people, showed she is a serious contender, having built up a strong base.
Photo courtesy of Lin Tai-hua’s office
She faces stiff competition from other contenders, including legislators Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑), Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) and Chui Yi-ying (邱議瑩), who are aiming to get the party’s nomination to succeed Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chih-mai (陳其邁), whose second term is to end next year.
There are pressures within the DPP for Lin to withdraw, as she was indicted on corruption charges in June for allegedly filing fraudulent claims for assistants’ salaries to pocket NT$15 million (US$487,821); the trial is still ongoing.
After her indictment, she slid from leading the list of contenders to third place in Kaohsiung polls and high-level DPP officials have urged Lin to drop out of the race to prevent opposition parties from using the corruption charges to attack DPP candidates during next year’s elections.
Some DPP members accused Lin of trying to manipulate the poll, saying that she asked supporters to say they are from the 20-to-30 age group, which has a “higher weighted value,” when polls ask who they support.
Asked about the matter, Hsu said, “people should tell the truth, so the public polling can accurately reflect the levels of support.”
Lai said that it is best to have transparency in polling.
“I wish to see more positive talk, to present policies and the best ways to safeguard Kaohsiung and Taiwan. Let’s have an honest competition, not internal fighting that would damage our party unity,” Lai said.
In related news, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) sparked some controversy after he called on people to attend the Saturday rally.
“Lin Tai-hua is a quality legislator who has won in legislative elections seven times. She is engaged at the grassroots level, works diligently, has integrity and has garnered widespread support from Kaohsiung residents,” the minister said.
Some criticized the minister for his support of Lin Tai-hua, as she is facing corruption charges.
Lin Tai-hua said she would seek to create a new “Kaohsiung Miracle,” adding that although she has been under attack by allegations of corruption and other negative rumors, “we are overturning the situation, and together with our city residents, we will win.”
She said that she aims to fight against the monopolization of political power by the dominant party factions.
Her candidacy also represents the defiant fighting spirit of Kaohsiung residents, she said, adding that “we would not put up with others running over us and telling us whom to vote for in the party primary.”
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 8:39pm tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicenter was 38.7km east-northeast of Yilan County Hall at a focal depth of 98.3km, the CWA’s Seismological Center said. The quake’s maximum intensity, which gauges the actual physical effect of a seismic event, was a level 4 on Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, the center said. That intensity level was recorded in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳), Hsinchu County’s Guansi Township (關西), Nantou County’s Hehuanshan (合歡山) and Hualien County’s Yanliao (鹽寮). An intensity of 3 was
Instead of focusing solely on the threat of a full-scale military invasion, the US and its allies must prepare for a potential Chinese “quarantine” of Taiwan enforced through customs inspections, Stanford University Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann said in a Foreign Affairs article published on Wednesday. China could use various “gray zone” tactics in “reconfiguring the regional and ultimately the global economic order without a war,” said Freymann, who is also a nonresident research fellow at the US Naval War College. China might seize control of Taiwan’s links to the outside world by requiring all flights and ships entering or leaving Taiwan
The next minimum wage hike is expected to exceed NT$30,000, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday during an award ceremony honoring “model workers,” including migrant workers, at the Presidential Office ahead of Workers’ Day today. Lai said he wished to thank the awardees on behalf of the nation and extend his most sincere respect for their hard work, on which Taiwan’s prosperity has been built. Lai specifically thanked 10 migrant workers selected for the award, saying that although they left their home countries to further their own goals, their efforts have benefited Taiwan as well. The nation’s industrial sector and small businesses lay
Taiwan's first indigenous defense submarine, the SS-711 Hai Kun (海鯤, or Narwhal), departed for its 13th sea trial at 7am today, marking its seventh submerged test, with delivery to the navy scheduled for July. The outing also marked its first sea deployment since President William Lai (賴清德) boarded the submarine for an inspection on March 19, drawing a crowd of military enthusiasts who gathered to show support. The submarine this morning departed port accompanied by CSBC Corp’s Endeavor Manta (奮進魔鬼魚號) uncrewed surface vessel and a navy M109 assault boat. Amid public interest in key milestones such as torpedo-launching operations and overnight submerged trials,
RSS