Premier demands curb on by-election canvassing

Wu said he does not oppose ministerial level officials canvassing votes for ruling Kuomintang (KMT) candidates running in the by-elections for four legislative seats slated for Feb. 27, but said that the vote-soliciting initiatives must not run against party or government norms.

He said the vote-canvassing initiatives must be carried out under the principles that the activity does not contradict the propriety of the minister's position, that no national resources or budget should be used for particular candidates and that the officials must be careful with their language when canvassing.

The premier pinpointed the ministers of justice and education, as well as the director-general of the National Police Agency, as being unsuitable for appearances at stumping functions.

He said that while civil servants have the right to extend verbal support for election candidates when they are off-duty, such stumping must not be “too much.”

The KMT has fielded Chen Shueh-sheng, Cheng Yung-tang, Lin Teh-jui and Wang Ting-sheng as candidates in the Feb. 27 legislative by elections for Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Chiayi and Hualien counties, respectively.

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