KMT New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Sichuan is reportedly setting up a campaign headquarters on an empty lot along Sanmin Road in Banqiao District, scheduled to officially open on September 13. This move has drawn sharp criticism from DPP legislator Lin Chuyin, who accused Lee of breaking his earlier public commitment to not establish a campaign headquarters.

On August 20, Lin Chuyin posted on social media stating that while setting up campaign offices and displaying banners is common in elections, a politician's credibility hinges on keeping promises. She emphasized, "If a political figure cannot uphold their own spoken commitments, how can voters trust them? Someone without integrity should step down from the race."

Lin pointed out that on August 31 of the previous year, Lee Sichuan stated in an interview with media personality Huang Weihan that his mayoral campaign would follow the 'Three Nos': no campaign headquarters, no fundraising, and no incurring political debts. However, recent media reports indicate that Lee's campaign headquarters is being constructed on Sanmin Road in Banqiao, with work already underway and an official launch set for September 13—directly contradicting his earlier stance.

She questioned whether Lee had effectively broken his promise by now building a campaign office after publicly vowing not to. While establishing campaign offices and holding events are standard political practices, Lin stressed that the real issue lies in the gap between promises and actions.

Beyond the headquarters, Lin also noted that Lee previously claimed he would not put up campaign banners. Yet, residents recently spotted a large campaign billboard for Lee near the exit of Dapinglin MRT Station in Xindian District. She criticized that Lee's 'Three Nos' pledge appears to be unraveling one by one, raising doubts about the reliability of his political commitments.

Lin further listed other controversies surrounding Lee, including his younger brother's alleged involvement in an intimidation case related to garbage collection in Xiaoliuqiu, disputes over illegal structures on family-owned farmland, inconsistencies in explanations regarding luxury home purchases and down payments, and identical financial disclosures for two consecutive reporting periods—errors Lee has personally admitted.

Lin emphasized, "Integrity and accountability are paramount for anyone running for mayor." She questioned how New Taipei citizens could trust Lee's future policy promises if he cannot uphold his own campaign pledges. She challenged Lee: "If you're already breaking your campaign promises, shouldn't you just withdraw?"

Lin reiterated that setting up campaign offices or displaying banners is not inherently wrong. The core issue is that Lee made a clear public commitment to the 'Three Nos,' yet is now reportedly constructing a headquarters. She demanded that Lee explain the reasons behind this policy shift and address public concerns about political integrity.

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: News