EDITORIAL: Laws cannot ensure ‘clean’ electionsAfter the plagiarism scandals and allegations in the run-up to last month’s local elections, the hot topic ahead of a by-election in Taipei’s third electoral district is the issue of “black gold,” that is, bribery and affiliation with criminals. The Cabinet and the DPP have drafted amendments to ban people convicted of offenses related to organized crime, money laundering, firearms, drugs or vote-buying from running in national and local elections. Besides, commitment to holding a “clean election” by political parties would be a more crucial factor or, more precisely perhaps, a challenge. Many of these candidates were elected with a large number of votes in their favor, mostly from local political factions. Legislation alone cannot prevent politicians from using camouflage or sophistry, neither can it guarantee that elections are clean and ethical.

Source: Taipei Times December 13, 2022 17:16 UTC