TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Lai Ching-te announced on Wednesday (Jan. 17) that the NT$160 million in election subsidies won by the party would be donated to charitable causes. The funds will be used to care for the party's founding members and support the education of young party workers.
Lai, who secured victory in the 2024 presidential election with 5.58 million votes, expressed gratitude to the nation's citizens for their support, noting that each vote contributed NT$30 to the subsidy.
The subsidies will be distributed in three equal parts, Lai said. The first third will be submitted back to the central party in line with their guidelines. Another third will be donated to the central party for two purposes: to assist the founding members with their livelihoods and to provide scholarships or grants for young DPP members to study abroad or pursue further education domestically. These initiatives will later be planned by the party central.
Lastly, Lai stated that the final third of the subsidies will be donated to charitable causes, keeping with their tradition. He noted that past legislators, city mayors, and representatives have allocated their electoral subsidies in the same manner.