After the DPP Central Review Committee decided to expel her from the party on Monday, legislator-at-large Chiu Chang (
Chiu alleged that the DPP completely ignored the facts and used political force to interfere in the review committee's operations.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Chiu also went to the Taipei District Court (
The party alleged that Chiu had seriously violated party discipline rules and had stained the party's image by refusing to show her ballot to the DPP's voting witness and by shouting on the legislative floor during the legislative vice-speaker race on Feb. 1.
Chiu was accompanied at the press conference by DPP lawmakers Lin Kuo-hua (
She said that, in accordance with party procedures, she had appealed to the DPP's Arbitration Committee to revoke the punishment, because she did vote for the party's candidate, Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌), rather than spoiling her ballot, as her accusers claim she did.
The Arbitration Committee said it had received her appeal.
Lin Kuo-hua said that some party members violated the criminal code by forcing their colleagues to show their ballots. "It is hoped that Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
Chiu claimed that it is evident that her case was interfered with by political forces. She said review committee member Cheng Hsin-chu (鄭新助) had phoned her before the press conference, saying that he could not attend because of pressure from the party's "upper level."
DPP Central Standing Committee member Lawrence Kao (
If Chiu fails in her appeal, her legislator-at-large seat will be filled by former lawmaker Lin Wen-lang (
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