TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) faces a critical decision as its Central Executive Committee (民眾黨中央委員會) prepares to meet Monday (Nov. 18) afternoon to discuss whether to extend Chairman Ko Wen-je's (柯文哲) leave.
Ko took three months of leave starting Aug. 29 amid a political donation scandal and as the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office (台北地檢署) investigated the Core Pacific City (京華城) corruption scandal. Ko, who announced his leave to consider his future leadership of the party, will see his leave end in late November.
He has decided to abandon his appeal, which confirms his detention will extend into next year. The party's constitution mandates that if the chair resigns or cannot perform duties, the committee must choose an acting chair. If more than a year remains in the term, a by-election must occur within six months.
According to a report by United Daily News (UDN, 聯合報), the committee will convene at 2 p.m. that day to deliberate and will hold a press conference afterward to announce their decision. Most committee members lean toward extending Ko's leave, delaying the appointment of an acting chair.