Friday, August 15, 2008

The Sun Also Rises

Former Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-bian, has admitted hiding millions of dollars, including leftover campaign funds, in overseas accounts. Chen was a leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, the first party to seize control in 2000 from the long-reigning Nationalist Party, which had been in power under a single-party rule since 1949.

Several corruption probes are investigating Chen and may have contributed to the DPP's loss in the presidential elections earlier this year.

But corruption is hardly unique to the DPP. Prominent members of the Nationalist party have been embroiled in corruption prosecutions, yet the scandals garnered less attention because the Nationalists were not the ruling power at the time. The increased transparency during the DPP's term brought the harsh light to everyone. It is a shame that the DPP was punished for it.

No comments: