News
TPP postpones selection of acting chair
The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) has decided to pause the selection of an acting chair after party chair Ko Wen-je took a three-month leave of absence.
Ko's leave comes amid a campaign fund scandal from his candidacy earlier this year, prompting him to request an internal investigation by the Central Review Committee to determine if he should continue leading the party.
Party rules state an acting chair is only needed if the chair cannot perform duties.
TPP Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu (周榆修) noted that discussions with the Central Committee are planned to address this.
Meanwhile, the Taipei District Court has released Ko without bail following an investigation into the related case.
The TPP has expressed support for Ko and is waiting for the Central Review Committee's decision on the party's next steps. The committee chair clarified that Ko's leave does not necessitate a leadership change, describing it as a routine matter.
In other news from the TPP, the party’s legislative caucus has announced the draft bills that it's planning to prioritize for the new legislative session, and they include amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Huang Guo-chang, leader of the caucus, says from what chairman Ko Wen-je has experienced during the past several days, it's obvious that the Code of Criminal Procedure should be amended to strengthen protection of human rights. He questions if the prosecutors followed proper procedures in their treatment of Ko.
Huang says the TPP will also push for draft bills focusing on absentee voting, protection of whistleblowers, long-term medical care insurance, and satellite TV and radio management, among others.
The political party will also seek to delete a major portion of the 2025 budget, at NT$190 million, for the Control Yuan, saying that the yuan has not carried out its duties above party politics as it's supposed to.
Meanwhile the DPP’s legislative caucus Secretary-General Wu Szu-yao says one priority for her party is to pass legislation to establish a new ministry for sports and sports development, one of the principal stated goals of President Lai Ching-te's administration. The DPP also hopes to adjust the poverty line, and increase the number of people who can apply for financial support and remove "unreasonable requirements".
KMT legislative caucus Secretary-General Lin Szu-ming says his party's legislative priorities concern acts relating to social welfare and economic development. Lin says the KMT would also carefully scrutinize the "114th Annual Central Government General Budget and the Forward-looking Infrastructure Plan."
