Political Firestorm in Taiwan: Hou Han-ting Demands Action on Alleged Forged Signatures in Fu Kun-chi Recall Campaign

Amidst accusations of forged signatures and inconsistent formats in the recall efforts targeting legislator Fu Kun-chi, Taipei City Councillor Hou Han-ting calls for a comprehensive investigation and action.

A political dispute has erupted in Taiwan, with allegations of irregularities in the petition to recall legislator Fu Kun-chi. Following the Taipei District Prosecutors Office's examination of a recall group, the focus has shifted to the purported discrepancies in the format of approximately 4,000 signature sheets supporting Fu Kun-chi's recall.

Despite these reports, the Hualien District Prosecutors Office stated that they would not initiate a formal investigation, citing the absence of public complaints. However, this decision has drawn criticism from figures like Taipei City Councillor Hou Han-ting, who has filed an online complaint with the Hualien District Prosecutors Office, urging an investigation and legal action. He accuses the prosecutors of using a double standard, contrasting the handling of the recall petition with other legal matters.

Hou Han-ting further elaborated that the Central Election Commission had previously labeled self-produced signature sheets as potential cases of document forgery. He pointed to the groups backing the recall, who admitted to document forgery, primarily due to illegal pre-launch activities. Calling for consistent application of the law, he urged the relevant authorities to promptly launch investigations into the recall campaign teams in Hualien, citing potential violations of document forgery, personal data protection, and electoral law regulations. He is requesting for the investigation of the recall team's alleged forgeries and other offenses.