Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

An impeachment to dismember

Taipei Times Editorial

The impeachment of State Public Prosecutor-General Chen Tsung-ming (陳聰明), which triggered a mass resignation of 14 of his prosecutorial appointees, was first and foremost a political act.

Chen resigned shortly after the Control Yuan’s decision was handed down on Tuesday. Nominated by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Chen Tsung-ming is the first top prosecutor to suffer this fate.

The KMT's Sordid Past Relives Itself under Ma Ying-jeou

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is a past master of fat-cat positions and bought loyalties. Who can not help but remember the inequalities of its forced forty year one-party state rule of Taiwan. Who cannot help but remember how while promoting the ruse of being pro-democracy the KMT guaranteed party members lucrative lifelong positions in the Legislative Yuan (LY). After it lost China's Civil War, the KMT retreated to Taiwan in 1949. Party members elected to the LY in 1947, never had to face another election until 1992 when Lee Teng-hui finally cleaned house. Most LY members by that time had either died or were ready to retire with fat pensions. Is the past, the past? Not on your life.

Ma should not confuse leadership with force

Taiwan News Editorial

The success scored by the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in ramming undemocratic changes to the local government act Monday and the Control Yuan's impeachment of the supreme public prosecutor for malfeasance and laxity in prosecuting "corruption" cases involving the former first family hint that the KMT will play "hard ball" to rebuilt "enthusiasm" among its core supporters.

In the wake of a poor performance in local elections last December and the sweep of three legislative by-elections by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Jan. 10, President and KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and new KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung decided that the setbacks were due to the erosion of "enthusiasm" for the "one party dominant" KMT administration among its core supporters and "middle voters."

King of more than just the KMT

Taipei Times Editorial

When King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) last month became Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) secretary-general, he spoke of “making the KMT a better party so that it will allow the public to embrace it.” President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), meanwhile, who doubles as KMT chairman, said King would be the party’s “chief executive officer” in charge of implementing his agenda for party reform.

Just one month into the job, however, it has become clear that King’s clout extends beyond the KMT’s internal affairs. The KMT secretary-general has palpable influence over the executive and legislative arms of government.

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