In Taiwan, a decision was pending on the continued detention of former presidential candidate Ko Wen-je due to corruption allegations, prompting some minor demonstrations by his supporters. Ko, who heads the Taiwan People’s Party, had a hearing scheduled on Sunday following an overnight detainment. Outside the prosecutors’ office in Taipei, his backers gathered, holding signs and demanding his release, asserting that he was a victim of judicial oppression. Ko’s request to return home was denied by investigators, fearing collusion with others implicated in the case.
Trained as a doctor and previously serving as Taipei’s mayor, Ko and his Taiwan People’s Party emerged as a notable force in Taiwan’s political landscape, challenging the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the Nationalist Party. The graft allegations involve Ko and others in a scandal from his mayorship term, where a shopping center developer was permitted to significantly increase leased floor space. Raids were conducted at Ko’s residence and party offices before he faced questioning on Friday. With calls from DPP politicians for a halt on the shopping center’s construction or possible demolition.
In the recent election, Ko came in third place with around a quarter of the vote, with the victory going to the DPP’s William Lai Ching-te, a party supporting Taiwan’s de-facto independence from China. Despite having garnered nearly 3% of legislative seats, Ko’s TPP struggled to gain widespread political traction beyond his core supporters. Although popular with young voters, Ko’s political stance remained vague, as he briefly engaged with both the DPP and Nationalist parties but failed to secure an alliance, thereby lacking broader political support. Over the years, political corruption has diminished as a significant issue in Taiwan, attributed to the increasing empowered role of independent investigators.
