President should also be included in dual nationality probe: DPP

Legislator Tien Chiu-chin said the Legislature in May passed a resolution to look into the nationality status of its own members, as well as high-ranking officials of the central government.

The foreign ministry was asked to help with the investigation, said Tien of the Democratic Progressive Party.

All potential targets would be asked to sign an authorization paper allowing the ministry to verify their nationality statuses with foreign governments, the DPP lawmaker said.

In June, the Legislature's secretariat sent out letters to various government bodies, except the Presidential Office, informing them of the resolution, she said.

“Isn't the president a member of the central government?” asked Tien.

She also cited the foreign ministry as saying that none of the government officials have signed the authorization paper. But a source with the Legislature said the resolution only covers Cabinet officials, according to the Central News Agency. Speaker Wang Jin-pyng has also discussed the issue with the leaders of party caucuses in the Legislature, the source said.

They have agreed that if the nationality status of the president and vice president should also be verified, the Legislature may seek some other ways to do it, the source said. The dual nationals since President Ma Ying-jeou was found to have once obtained a U.S. green card.

Kuomintang Legislator Diane Lee is coming under tremendous pressure to resign after the U.S. State Department said her U.S. citizenship remains valid. Lee has claimed that she is no longer a U.S. citizen, and is seeking a final confirmation from the Statement Department.

Legislator Lo Shu-lei, a KMT whip, said the Legislature should allow Lee some time to obtain proof to back her claim that she has already lost her U.S. citizenship.

Lee will have until Jan. 31 to obtain such proof, and the Legislature will see what it will do after that, Lo said. “After all, she was elected by so many voters, and we need to handle it carefully,” said Lo. “Let Diane Lee focus her mind on it. We can afford to wait another month.”

Asked what will happen if Lee cannot produce the necessary proof, Lo said, “We will then have no other options.” Lo was referring to the law that forbids elected officials from having foreign citizenship.

The Legislature would have to expel Lee if she cannot prove that she is no longer a U.S. citizen.

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