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President Tsai accused of illegal election day campaigning
During Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, President Tsai Ing-wen faced criticism after her official LINE account displayed election slogans of Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party, leading to accusations of illegal campaigning. The image was later removed from the account. This incident prompted online users to question the authority of the Central Election Commission (CEC) and suggest filing complaints against the president. The CEC had previously warned that campaigning on social media platforms like LINE and Facebook was prohibited on polling day, with violators facing penalties ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$1 million. Political parties, candidates, and their employees or agents could face even higher penalties of NT$200,000 to NT$2 million. The investigation into this alleged violation could have significant financial consequences.
2024/01/13 14:20
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Kaohsiung cleaning staff waitlist issue sparks controversy
The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government has clarified that the recruitment paths for full-time and part-time cleaning staff are different, which is why they need to consider temporary work applicants before those from previous years. This comes after Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen led a press conference with individuals claiming to be on the waiting list for the city’s cleaning crew, who passed the "Kaohsiung City Official Cleaning Staff" exam two years ago but have not yet received a position. The Bureau emphasized that the different recruitment avenues do not infringe upon part-time workers’ rights. The recent cleaning staff recruitment attracted over 7,400 applicants for 850 positions, and some candidates on the waiting list are still waiting for an opportunity to work at the Bureau. The bureau recruited 172 official cleaners and drivers, with an additional 678 on the waiting list, of whom only half have been employed so far. The bureau began recruiting part-time staff earlier this year, even though the previous list of alternates has not yet been fully filled. Deputy Director Kao Tsung-yung explained that the previous test was for full-time staff, while the current recruitment is for temporary personnel. The Bureau has announced the eighth round of 100 alternates’ roster and will continue to do so in April, July, and October. Those on the waiting list will still need to wait for their chance.
2024/01/03 17:05
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Taiwan gears up for first presidential policy forum
Taipei is gearing up for the first official televised presidential policy presentation forums ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Candidates from the Kuomintang (KMT), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) will have 30 minutes each to present their platforms in three rounds of 10 minutes. The forums, scheduled on December 20, 26, and 28, with an additional event for vice-presidential candidates on December 22, aim to provide a critical opportunity for the candidates to connect with voters and influence public opinion in the final weeks of the campaign. The presentations will be broadcast live on television and streamed on the Central Election Commission (CEC) website.
2023/12/20 16:16
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Taiwan’s CEC draws ballot numbers for presidential race
The Central Election Commission (CEC) held a draw to determine the candidate numbers for the ballots ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)’s Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu drew number one, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s Lai Ching-teh and Hsiao Bi-khim will be number two. The Kuomintang (KMT) duo Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong secured the number three spot. The lottery drew numbers in the order that parties registered for the election: DPP, TPP, then KMT. The official list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates will be announced on Dec. 15. Several televised policy presentations, a vice-presidential debate, and a presidential debate are scheduled leading up to the election.
2023/12/11 17:12
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Taiwan’s CEC checks candidates’ nationality for election
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that all presidential and vice presidential candidates in Taiwan’s upcoming elections have submitted consent forms for nationality verification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One candidate, Cynthia Wu of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has come under scrutiny for allegedly retaining her U.S. citizenship. Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) have called on Wu to provide proof of her nationality status. The CEC aims to finalize the list of candidates by December 5 and announce the official roster on December 15. The DPP has nominated Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, while the TPP has put forward Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu. The KMT has endorsed Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong. The focus now shifts to transparency and eligibility, with citizenship concerns becoming a central issue in the political discourse. The CEC’s timeline allows for any issues to be resolved before the formal candidate list is published, ensuring a fair and democratic election process.
2023/11/29 22:10
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Gou, Lai clear signature threshold for presidential race
Terry Gou and Lai Pei-hsia, independent candidates for Taiwan’s presidential elections, have surpassed the required threshold of signatures, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The CEC announced that Gou and Lai gathered over 900,000 signatures, allowing them to register as official candidates from November 20 to 24. After verification, the final count revealed that they received 1,038,031 signatures, despite initially submitting 1,036,778. After invalidating 135,642 signatures, the CEC confirmed a total of 902,389 verifiable signatures, meeting the necessary requirement. Out of the ten groups collecting signatures, only Gou and Lai gathered enough, while the other nine groups fell short and will not have their nomination deposits returned.
2023/11/14 18:19
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CEC issues important notice on Legislative Yuan elections
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has released an official notice outlining the procedures for the upcoming Legislative Yuan elections. The 11th legislative elections will be held on January 13th next year, coinciding with the presidential and vice presidential elections for the 16th term. Candidates can obtain nomination forms starting next week, with the registration period beginning two weeks later and lasting for four days. Political parties and overseas citizens interested in running for the legislative elections are advised to submit candidate registration lists at the CEC counter in Taipei. The election announcement provides important information such as the scope of legislative authority, administration divisions, the number of positions to be elected, and the maximum campaign expenditure allowed.
2023/11/08 19:03