《TAIPEI TIMES》EY backs drafts to limit crime influence

CAMPAIGN REFORM: Political aspirants convicted of bribery or trafficking of drugs or firearms would be barred from nomination, while parties could face steep fines

By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

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The Executive Yuan （EY） yesterday approved several draft legal amendments to prevent political office aspirants with certain criminal convictions from being nominated in local and national elections, and to add penalties for political parties whose candidates are indicted for bribery offenses committed during a nomination process or election campaign.

The amendments to Article 59 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act （總統副總統選舉罷免法） and Article 58 of the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act （公職人員選舉罷免法） are to be forwarded to the Legislative Yuan for promulgation.

The amendments would bar those convicted of treason, bribery, or trafficking of drugs or firearms from being nominated for election to public office.

The government is responding to public demands to eliminate the influences of organized crime in politics and increase honesty in campaigning, Executive Yuan spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng （羅秉承） said yesterday, citing Premier Su Tseng-chang （蘇貞昌）.

The amendments should result in a reduction of recall campaigns, he added.

Amendments to the Organized Crime Prevention Act （組織犯罪防制條例） were also approved by the Executive Yuan yesterday.

Lo cited Su as saying that the amendments are intended to address new methods used by criminals to smuggle narcotics, launder money and engage in human trafficking.

Lo said the amendments are intended to reduce the influence of organized crime in Taiwanese politics.

Addressing a question about whether barring a person from office long after serving a sentence would be fair, Lo said that taxi drivers, lawyers, judges and prosecutors face the same limitation, as per the former council of grand justice’s Constitutional Interpretation No. 749.

The amendments state that individuals convicted of bribery that occurs during a party primary or election campaign would be forbidden from participating in the respective election.

Under the draft amendments, a party that nominates a presidential or vice presidential candidate found guilty of bribery would face a fine ranging from NT$5 million to NT$50 million （US$163,265 to US$1.63 million）.

For candidates running in general elections, the fine would range from NT$500,000 to NT$5 million.

The candidates would also be barred from holding public office on national security grounds.

Campaign advertisements must state who paid for the message to prevent foreign agents from intervening in domestic elections, and media companies are required to retain a copy of the advertising contract, with fines for contravention ranging from NT$200,00 to NT$10 million, the draft amendments say.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES