DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwan lawmakers pass "Gao Hong-an clause" allowing candidates with suspended sentences to run

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Approved/passed
  • Taiwan's legislature passed an amendment to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, allowing individuals with suspended sentences or community service to run for office.
  • Critics, like DPP legislator Chen Pei-yu, argue the amendment, dubbed the "Gao Hong-an clause," was rushed to benefit specific candidates, including Hsinchu Mayor Gao Hong-an, before the election registration deadline.
  • The amendment passed despite the ongoing review of the year's budget, drawing accusations that lawmakers prioritized electoral interests over public welfare.

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a controversial amendment to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, a move critics are calling the "Gao Hong-an clause." The amendment, jointly proposed by the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucuses, permits individuals serving suspended sentences or performing community labor to stand for election. This change effectively clears a path for Hsinchu Mayor Gao Hong-an, who faces legal challenges, to seek re-election.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chen Pei-yu fiercely criticized the timing and intent of the amendment. She highlighted that the legislature passed this change to the election law before completing the review of the current year's budget. Chen accused the KMT and TPP of prioritizing their electoral interests and those of specific candidates, like Mayor Gao, over the public's welfare and legislative due diligence. "Blue and white are clearly only concerned with their own electoral interests, ignoring people's well-being," Chen stated.

Blue and white are clearly only concerned with their own electoral interests, ignoring people's well-being!

— Chen Pei-yuCriticizing the legislative amendment prioritizing electoral benefits over public welfare.

The amendment specifically addresses individuals who have received a six-month suspended sentence, as Gao did in her defamation case, and could have faced disqualification from running. The new provision allows those sentenced to community labor as an alternative to imprisonment to register as candidates. This ensures Gao's candidacy is secured before the September 4th registration deadline.

The constitution protects people's right to participate in politics and cannot be arbitrarily deprived.

— Fu Kun-chiJustifying the amendment to allow individuals with suspended sentences to run for office.

Chen Pei-yu also pointed to the hypocrisy of lawmakers like KMT legislator Fu Kun-chi, who has a history of imprisonment for stock market manipulation, advocating for the amendment based on the constitutional right to participate in politics. TPP legislator Hsu Chung-hsin's assertion that allowing community service participants to run is "natural and right" was also decried by Chen.

The rapid passage of the amendment, occurring mid-June and ahead of the registration cutoff, has fueled accusations of political maneuvering. Critics argue that the KMT and TPP rushed the legislation, bypassing thorough deliberation and demonstrating a clear focus on securing electoral advantages rather than addressing pressing national issues like the budget.

Those who serve community labor maintain their right to run for election, which is natural and right.

— Hsu Chung-hsinDefending the amendment's provision for individuals performing community service.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog