The China Post
Date: September 22, 2017
By: The China Post

A petition calling for President Tsai Ing-wen to pardon her predecessor Chen Shui-

A petition calling for President Tsai Ing-wen to pardon her predecessor Chen Shui-bian has received overwhelming support from local government chiefs and lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

bian has received overwhelming support from local government chiefs and lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

All DPP local government chiefs and over 86 percent of DPP lawmakers have signed the petition, according to its organizer, which announced that it will propose for Chen’s pardon at the DPP’s national convention on Sept. 24. The former president is currently on medical parole while serving a 19-year jail sentence for bribery.

While local DPP politicians and lawmakers widely supported the pardon proposal, the president and senior DPP figures are taking a more muted approach. DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming, despite his long-term support of Chen, said that the petition is not the best way to help the former president. The Presidential Office has been mostly quiet on the petition issue. Local Chinese newspaper the United Daily News quoted unnamed President Office sources as saying that even if the DPP approves the proposal at the national convention, pardoning Chen will not become the government’s policy.    [FULL  STORY]