Taiwanese politician Ko Wen-je, who ran as a maverick candidate for president last year, has been officially accused of corruption. Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted him on charges related to bribes taken during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.
Ko Wen-je, 65, was expected to play a significant role in Taiwanese politics despite losing the presidential election. However, his political fortunes began to unravel after his party disclosed poor accounting and murky handling of donations from supporters. Prosecutors arrested him in September, and he is now facing charges that could potentially lead to a 28½ year prison sentence.
The indictment has sparked concerns about its impact on Taiwanese politics, with President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party at odds with the main opposition Nationalist Party and Ko Wen-je’s smaller Taiwan People’s Party. Despite Ko Wen-je’s arrest, his party is unlikely to collapse, as supporters remain committed to their cause.
Ko Wen-je had founded his party in 2019, arguing that traditional parties were not addressing voters’ concerns about government incompetence and other issues. His relatively strong showing in the presidential election indicated that he would remain influential in Taiwanese politics. However, the corruption charges may dampen some support for his party, as prosecutors have alleged that Ko Wen-je took over $500,000 in bribes and misused campaign funds.
Ko Wen-je has denied the charges, claiming they are part of a political vendetta mounted by President Lai’s government. Thousands of supporters gathered in protests after his arrest, arguing that the allegations were flimsy and politically motivated. Despite this, leading members of Ko Wen-je’s party have stuck by him, continuing to align with the main opposition Nationalist Party in the legislature.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/world/asia/taiwan-presidential-candidate-indicted.html