In a significant development, People’s Party Chairman Ke Wenzhe has come under intense scrutiny following revelations about the handling of election subsidies. Reports surfaced today that Ke Wenzhe used 43 million yuan in cash from these subsidies to purchase a commercial office near the Legislative Yuan for personal use. This disclosure has sparked widespread debate and raised questions about the propriety of his financial dealings.
Ke Wenzhe has acknowledged the purchase, stating that his actions align with what he described as common practice among other political parties. According to Ke, the convention is for two-thirds of the election subsidies to be allocated to the individual candidate, with one-third going to the party’s central committee. For the recent presidential election, Ke’s campaign received a total of 110,713,980 yuan in subsidies. Based on the conventional split, this would imply that approximately 73,809,320 yuan should be attributed to personal use.
In contrast, his competitors in the presidential race took markedly different approaches with their subsidies. Lai Qingde, who also contested the presidential election, received 160 million yuan in subsidies but chose to donate the entire amount. The funds were allocated equally between charitable causes, support for vulnerable party members, and scholarships for young party workers studying abroad. Similarly, Hou Youyi, who received 140 million yuan in subsidies, donated the entire sum back to the Kuomintang. Hou’s donation was intended to support disadvantaged individuals and encourage greater public engagement among youth.
Ke Wenzhe’s justification of his use of the subsidies, while consistent with the practices of some other political figures, contrasts sharply with the philanthropic approaches of Lai Qingde and Hou Youyi. This discrepancy has led to calls for increased transparency and accountability in the management of election subsidies.
This controversy not only affects Ke Wenzhe’s public image but also highlights broader issues of financial ethics and transparency within Taiwanese politics. The scrutiny of Ke Wenzhe’s actions underscores the need for clear and consistent guidelines governing the use of election funds.