Legislature President Wang Jin-pyng remains a Kuomintang (KMT) party member after the party dropped legal action against him. KMT Chairman Eric Chu announced the KMT’s decision on Wednesday.
Wang’s membership had been revoked in September 2013 after he was accused of being involved in illegal lobbying of the judiciary. Wang brought the issue to the courts, which ruled in Wang’s favor twice. But former KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou had sought further appeals. Since President Ma Ying-jeou resigned as KMT chairman, all eyes were on the new KMT Chairman Eric Chu to see what he would do with Wang’s case.
Instead of trying to expel Wang from the party, Chu decided to amend party regulations on performance evaluations and discipline. Under the new rules, Wang's membership remains valid and the party sees no need to pursue legal action against Wang.
President Ma responded to the decision by saying he was personally disappointed and cannot agree with the decision. That's because Chu and the party's Central Standing Committee has given up on sending the case to the Supreme Court and have accepted the court's unreasonable decision. Ma said he was just expressing his thoughts as a senior party member, since he has already resigned as party chairman.
The president explained that his earlier decision to appeal the case was due to consultation with lawyers and not out of personal political struggles with Wang. He said the court's earlier decision in Wang's favor totally overruled the party's disciplinary system. Ma believes the party's decision will hurt the KMT's image and credibility. If the party's disciplinary system falls apart, it will affect party operations and discipline and future elections.
Ma said that only when the case is brought to the Supreme Court would it be judged under the law. He also said that bringing Wang's case to the Supreme Court would not affect Wang's current rights and position.