Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-09-18
Taiwan’s Presidential Office says it’s the president, not the party, who has the right to
Presidential Office spokesperson Alex Huang (CNA)
decide on whether to pardon former President Chen Shui-bian.
After leaving office in 2008, Chen was sentenced to 20 years in prison on corruption charges and is now on medical parole. Both he and the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, have roots in the ruling party — the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
An alliance of city councilors who are fighting to free Chen said that 85% of their members have signed a petition calling for Chen’s pardon. The alliance collected 505 signatures of DPP representatives. Of the 68 DPP lawmakers in the nation’s legislature, 48 have signed the petition. But Presidential Office spokesperson Alex Huang clarified the president’s stance on the case.
“The ruling party is not ruling for the party’s sake alone. We can understand what people have been expressing due to their emotions but we also believe everyone will respect the president’s right based on the constitution,” said Huang. “This is our basic stance on this issue.” [FULL STORY]
