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Taiwan’s opposition parties hit with lawsuit over failed joint election deal

  • KMT party elder and former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou investigated, along with the party’s chairman and presidential candidate plus TPP leader
  • Ruling DPP accused of judicial interference while prosecutors say the four are ‘far from being suspects’ in election bribery case

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Taiwanese investigators are looking into the failed agreement between (from left) KMT chairman Eric Chu, KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, and Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je. Photo: CNA
Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou – who last month failed to broker a joint opposition presidential ticket – has been dealt another blow with an investigation under way into alleged election bribery.
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Also being investigated with the Kuomintang party elder are KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-lun and the party’s presidential candidate in next month’s poll Hou You-yi, along with Ko Wen-je, who is running for the smaller opposition Taiwan People’s Party.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office launched the investigation in response to a lawsuit filed against the four shortly after they reached a deal last month to form a joint bid for the presidency, seen as the best chance of ousting the ruling Democratic People’s Party.

The lawsuit was lodged by Taiwan Republic Office, a hardline pro-independence group wary of a possible opposition win. It alleged the agreement included an “illicit deal” over the allocation of government positions if they gained power.

The prosecutor’s office said its investigation was proceeding, despite the KMT-TPP agreement falling apart when the two sides failed to agree on how to choose a candidate and running mate before the registration deadline.

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In a notice issued on Monday, prosecutors said investigations were “officially under way” but indicated that the four are far from being seen as suspects, given that their alleged activities had not been clearly determined.

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