TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) expelled legislator Li Chen-hsiu (李貞秀) on Monday (April 13). The party's Central Evaluation Committee (中央評議委員會) found she had demanded financial compensation in exchange for resigning her at-large seat. The committee said Li's actions "severely eroded political integrity" and violated party disciplinary guidelines. The expulsion took effect immediately.
The committee said Li expressed willingness to resign her at-large seat at a meeting last Tuesday, but demanded financial compensation. The committee described this as "seriously damaging the ethics of public office." Acting under Articles 32 and 36 of the party's disciplinary guidelines, the committee voted to expel Li. The decision followed a petition from hundreds of party members and evidence provided by caucus leader Jacky Chen (陳清龍).
The expulsion stems from Li's alleged involvement in reporting fellow TPP member Ann Kao (高虹安) over fraudulent assistant fees. The controversy caused internal dissatisfaction within the party. Reports indicated that former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) repeatedly urged Li to resign, but her emotional appeals complicated the situation. The party did not address these reports in its statement.
Under the party's succession rules, Hsu Chung-hsin (許忠信) will assume Li's legislative seat from the at-large list. The party's two-year rotation rule means committee member Liu Shu-pin's (劉書彬) term will continue until March 2027. Chen Chih-han (陳智菡) will then succeed Liu on the committee. The TPP holds eight seats in Taiwan's 113-member Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament. ◼