The sometimes blurry line between organized crime and electoral politics, particularly in rural parts of Taiwan, can be observed in the recent sentencing of former DPP county councilor Yan Xumao for amphetamine smuggling. In the first instance, Yan was sentenced to life imprisonment, though he can appeal...
Questions have been raised about whether pan-Blue independent Chung Tung-chin, who is the current Miaoli county magistrate-elect, may be removed from office and the results of the election invalidated. Namely, three individuals have been detained by prosecutors in connection with a vote-buying scheme to aid Chung, who won with 42.66% of the vote. Prosecutors are also moving to invalidate the vote. ...
The Miaoli county magistrate debate was held on November 18th, consisting of three rounds. The first round consisted of an opening statement, and the second round consisted of cross-examination between candidates. Though there were five participants in the debate, the following article will focus on the three frontrunners in the race, these being the KMT’s candidate, Hsieh Fu-hung, the DPP candidate, Hsu Ting-chen, and independent candidate Chung Tung-chin...
Earlier this month, on November 3rd, President Tsai Ing-wen called for an end to “black gold” politics in an appeal to voters to place their votes for the DPP’s county magistrate candidates in Yilan, Miaoli, and Nantou. This is significant, in that this reflects that the DPP has chosen an angle of attack that will focus on the KMT over issues of corruption...
In perhaps one of the most unusual events in local politics in the present race, independent Chung Tung-chin, who is running for Miaoli county magistrate, has been called on by the DPP, KMT, and NPP alike to drop out of the race...
