Taichung Mayor's Aides Implicated in Leak Scandal; Critics Decry Double Standard

Taichung city government is facing an investigation into alleged leaks concerning a labor procurement case, with several former officials being questioned. Among those implicated are Yan Nailun, former director of the Taichung City Government's Secretariat and current city councilor, and Li Cheng-hsuan, who previously served as Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's secretary and was a former Taipei City spokesperson. Li has since resigned from his Taipei position.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated that she shares a close "sibling-like" relationship with Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, describing them as being on the "same team." This statement drew sharp criticism from opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors. They sarcastically remarked that Lu's close associates involved in the leak case are also on the "same team" as Chiang, questioning the differing standards applied to Li's resignation in Taipei versus the situation in Taichung.

DPP councilors, including Huang Shou-da, suspect that the issue is not an isolated incident but rather a systemic problem within Lu's administration. They are calling for a comprehensive review of procurement processes related to potential leaks. Huang questioned Li Cheng-hsuan's authority as a secretary for both the labor committee and the mayor's office in 2018, suggesting a pattern of irregularities.

Councilor Chou Yung-hung urged the Taichung City Government's ethics department to immediately investigate the administrative procedures and internal responsibilities related to the case. Councilor Chang Chia-an criticized the city government for failing to identify any issues with Lu Shiow-yen's key aides over the past six years, implying a reluctance to hold them accountable. She suggested that the investigation was only initiated due to judicial intervention and called for Yan Nailun to recuse himself from official duties.