Investigation on False Accounts Kills Two Birds: Reduces Ko to Original Amateur Image and Restrains KMT-TPP Alliance
United Daily News Editorial, August 15, 2024
Allegations of false accounts emerged regarding political donations to Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) during the 2024 presidential election. The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office alleges that accountant Tuan Mu-cheng and public relations company executive Lee Wen-chuan were involved in the crime of forgery, and ordered them to post bail, with restrictions against traveling abroad and electronic monitoring. Ko thought that it would be normal for him to be questioned by the authority, but he also muttered, "If the government of the Republic of China was so efficient," he would be happy to comply.
After the administration of President Lai Ching-te came to power, it took many judicial actions. The one that shocked everybody the most was the detention of former Executive Yuan Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan on corruption charges. Although Cheng's alleged involvement in the case has long been known locally, he is regarded as President Lai's rival in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is now being detained and severely punished, which has indeed attracted many political speculations.
Although Ko lost the presidential election, the TPP still has eight seats in the Legislative Yuan. Through cooperation with the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), both parties have achieved a majority in the Legislative Yuan. He wants to actively pursue progress in politics, and tries to win the elections in 2026 and 2028. This is undoubtedly a thorn in the eye of the DPP, which wants to regain the majority of the Legislative Yuan and to maintain the ruling status of the government. Therefore, Ko must be removed quickly. Although the case of false accounts of political donations should be investigated, the DPP is superfast when pinpointing the opposition. No wonder Ko complained that "the efficiency is so high".
The TPP has caused a mess, and it is the fault of itself and no one else to be blamed. However, although what the party claims as a "low-level mistake" may not amount to a crime, it is still upon the prosecution to determine whether to place charges in this case based on the evidence. But in the past few days, from the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office to the Control Yuan, there have been fierce calls for investigation and prosecution. The TPP has been in a state of chaos. The entire party is on the verge of collapse. Even the KMT, its ally in the Legislative Yuan, is worried. Regardless of the outcome of this wave of accounting fraud, it has severely damaged Ko's image and restricted the momentum for cooperation between the KMT and TPP. It can be said the case has killed two birds with one stone.
Whether the judiciary serves politics or not, the people have a yardstick in their minds. But the TPP has now become a street rat. Isn't it because there is a big problem with internal control? This is even more ironic for Ko, who keeps talking about standard operating procedures (SOPs). If everything was done according to the rules, how could there be such a big mistake? And he said it in a nonchalant manner, and even said that it was "the first time we have faced an election of such a large scale" due to his inexperience, which made people unable to agree, and also made all the "grass-root followers" who feel very dejected.
After Cheng Tuan-mu, Lee Wen-chuan and others were questioned and then released on bail, it was not surprising that as a presidential candidate at the time, Ko is going to be questioned by the prosecutor. He had already been sending preemptions by saying that "to be questioned is normal", but nobody knows how big the "false accounts gate" is. Will there be bigger and more explosive“accident”comes out later?
Ko's failure of management of stuff have been exposed in this scandal. He emerged in the political arena with a straightforward amateur image. His previous gaffes have caused his social credibility to rise at the beginning and drop very fast. Today's internal party governance has made everyone even more shocked that he can neither control himself nor his relatives and his stuff. He is loose cannon himself and has little control over those around him.
In his open letter to party members, Chairman Ko admitted that he "did not know people well and managed them inappropriately”and he also said "nothing went into his personal pockets." But isn't "managing people" the most important core competency of a leader? And not stuffing that money into one's own pockets is just the minimum requirement.
If he cannot govern one party, how can Ko govern the country? Ko failed to win the presidential election, reflecting the persistent concerns of many that he lacks a strong and experienced team. The storm of the false accounts brought him back to his true color, although he emphasized that he would learn from his mistakes and would not be defeated by this setback. But if someone has been in politics for many years and still behaves like a rash and inexperienced beginner, will voters trust the country to such a person?