A former presidential candidate in Taiwan, Ko Wen-je, has been officially accused of corruption in an indictment released by prosecutors on Thursday. The charges stem from allegations that he accepted bribes related to a property development project during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.
The prosecution of Mr. Ko is expected to intensify existing political divisions in Taiwan. The island’s current president, Lai Ching-te, along with the Democratic Progressive Party, is in conflict with the main opposition Nationalist Party and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (T.P.P.), which Mr. Ko founded. Together, the Nationalists and the T.P.P. hold a narrow majority in Taiwan’s legislature, limiting Mr. Lai’s authority.
Despite the indictment, analysts suggest that the T.P.P. may not face collapse. Political scientist Lev Nachman noted that the political movement Mr. Ko initiated in Taiwan is unlikely to dissipate, as supporters of the T.P.P. remain committed to the party despite the ongoing legal issues.
Mr. Ko, aged 65, served as the mayor of Taipei from 2014 to 2022 and established the T.P.P. in 2019, criticizing both the Democratic Progressive Party and the Nationalists for neglecting voters' concerns, including issues of government incompetence and rising housing costs. In the January presidential election, Mr. Ko finished third, securing over a quarter of the vote, which indicated his continued influence in Taiwanese politics.
However, Mr. Ko's political standing began to decline after the T.P.P. faced scrutiny over its financial practices. Following the discovery of questionable accounting and donation handling, prosecutors detained Mr. Ko in September as part of an investigation into whether he illegally approved an increase in the floor area for a commercial building project.
The indictment alleges that Mr. Ko accepted more than $500,000 in bribes in exchange for the project’s floor area increase and misused campaign funds. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 28½ years for him and have filed related charges against ten others.
Mr. Ko has denied the allegations, claiming they are part of a political vendetta orchestrated by Mr. Lai’s administration. Following his arrest, thousands of supporters protested, asserting that the charges are politically motivated and highlighting a perceived lack of accountability for corrupt officials within the Democratic Progressive Party.
Key figures in the Taiwan People’s Party have expressed their support for Mr. Ko, and the party continues to align with the Nationalist Party in legislative efforts aimed at undermining Mr. Lai’s presidential influence, including rejecting his nominations for the Constitutional Court.
Legal expert Yang Kuei-chih remarked that the detailed nature of the charges against Mr. Ko might reduce some of his support, emphasizing that the T.P.P. has positioned itself as a distinct alternative to traditional political parties.