Ma Ying-jeou risks splitting Taiwan’s KMT, lawmakers warn
Lawmakers warn of major party rift if Ma demands the ousting of legislative speaker, whom he accuses of influence-peddling
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is said to be risking a major rift in his party amid the fallout from alleged influence-peddling that has forced his justice minister to resign.
Ma at the weekend accused legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng, a fellow member of the Kuomintang, of influence-peddling by lobbying former justice minister Tseng Yung-fu not to appeal against the acquittal of prominent opposition lawmaker Ker Chien-ming in a breach-of-trust case.
Yesterday, Premier Jiang Yi-huah - a Ma ally - weighed in, saying Wang should resign because his integrity in future legislative sessions could be in doubt.
If Wang is forced to step down, it could drive a wedge between supporters of both men, analysts and lawmakers said.
Some KMT lawmakers said yesterday that they feared a stormy legislature ahead if Wang was sacked.
I don't know if Ma has considered the possibility of a split within the party if the speaker is sacked. This would also affect our chances in next year's local government elections
"I don't know if Ma has considered the possibility of a split within the party if the speaker is sacked," said a senior KMT legislator who declined to be named. "This would also affect our chances in next year's local government elections."
