Update | Taiwan speaker Wang Jin-pyng expelled from KMT
Emotional Ma Ying-jeou insists Wang Jin-pyng must go over influence-peddling claims, but lawmakers warn of growing political chaos
Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang yesterday kicked the legislative speaker out of the party for allegedly meddling in a legal case, intensifying a political crisis that has already brought down the justice minister.
Analysts and lawmakers warned that the decision to revoke Wang Jin-pyng's party membership - which would almost certainly lead to his losing the speakership - would exacerbate instability in Ma Ying-jeou's administration, which has been plagued by economic woes and public discontent at its performance.
We have decided to revoke Wang's membership for damaging the image and reputation of the party, following a heated debate of the issue
"We have decided to revoke Wang's membership for damaging the image and reputation of the party, following a heated debate of the issue," Huang Chao-yuan, head of the KMT's disciplinary committee, said after a two-hour meeting.
The committee said Wang, 72, would be given 20 days to appeal and would lose the speakership if the appeal failed. Wang launched action in the Taipei District Court late yesterday against the party's decision. His status as a legislator is uncertain.
Ma, who is KMT chairman as well as the island's president, had demanded that the committee revoke Wang's membership if he did not resign from the party.
Ma, who had been calling for Wang's removal since last week, shed tears when asked by committee members why he was insisting that Wang must go.
"Though it is a painful decision, it should still be made," Ma said at a news conference.
The president added that he was disappointed with Wang's insistence on Tuesday night that he had not done anything wrong and would not quit his post.