TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said Thursday that flaws in the party’s lawmaker selection and training processes contributed to recent internal controversies.
Ko’s remarks followed a Z.Media poll showing 25.9% of respondents blamed former TPP lawmaker Li Chen-hsiu (李貞秀) for her ongoing dispute with the party, while 24.8% held Ko responsible and 15% faulted current Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), per NOW News. The survey found DPP supporters were more likely to blame Ko and Huang, while TPP supporters tended to fault Li, per UP Media.
The poll, conducted April 19–20 with 1,071 respondents, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.99 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Older respondents were more likely to blame Ko, while those with higher education levels were more likely to fault Huang.
Ko said the party’s screening process should have been more comprehensive, though he defended allowing Chinese spouses to participate in Taiwan’s politics. He said the party’s lawmaker training program — key to its efforts to recruit political outsiders — was disrupted by his detention and recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers.
Separately, Li has continued to clash with TPP members over allegations she sought financial compensation to step down from her lawmaker position. TPP Taichung City Councilor Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) alleged that Li made such a request to TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍), per UDN.
Li denied the claim and challenged Chiang to provide evidence. Chiang said the party’s disciplinary committee had reviewed the relevant conversations, which contributed to the decision to expel her.
Chen said Chiang was not directly involved in the exchange and may have overstated the details, per CtWant. He said the disciplinary committee had reviewed the matter in full, urging all sides to move past the dispute.
Chen added that a lawmaker’s position “is not subject to transactions.” He also called on Li to respect the party’s decision while acknowledging her right to pursue legal action.
In addition to taking action against the TPP, Li has filed lawsuits against the Central Election Commission and the Legislative Yuan, per Liberty Times. CEC Interim Chair Wu Jung-hui (吳容輝) said the commission’s actions followed party procedures.
Wu noted that further discussion could take place after the newly appointed Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) assumes office.
