Taiwanese speaker apologizes for drunken groundbreaking ceremony antics

Changhua County Speaker Xie Dianlin has apologized for his behavior at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Changhua County Police Bureau's comprehensive administrative building on June 9. Xie attended the event while still hungover from the previous night's activities.

During the ceremony, Xie held the golden shovel upside down, with the metal part facing his neck and chin instead of being positioned to scoop soil. He also misheard the title of the civil defense brigade leader, repeatedly calling him the "bank brigade leader" and remarking that his family must be wealthy. To add to the unusual events, he distributed NT$100 gift vouchers to auxiliary police officers, which local figures jokingly compared to giving out tips.

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As speaker, I should be more mindful of my words and actions at all times. This is a reminder to myself, and thank you all for your reminders. I will continue to work hard, and my drinking capacity... also needs to be re-evaluated.

Eleven days after the incident, Xie addressed the situation on Facebook on June 20. He admitted that his late-night schedule had left him with lingering alcohol effects, which led to poor judgment and an unfavorable impression. He acknowledged that as speaker, he should be more mindful of his words and actions. Xie stated that while he will continue to work hard, he also needs to "re-evaluate his drinking capacity."

He explained in his post that his sole focus that morning was to help the public with the groundbreaking ceremony. However, his condition was not optimal, attracting media attention and causing concern among those who care about him. He thanked everyone for their reminders and promised to be more careful in the future.

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On the morning of June 9, I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Changhua County Police Bureau's comprehensive administrative building, which caused a poor impression on everyone. I want to apologize to everyone for this. That day, all I could think about was helping the public hold the golden shovel well and completing this important groundbreaking ceremony together. I didn't expect my condition to be not well-managed, attracting attention from media friends and worrying many people who care about me.