Ko deceiving public with his fiscal boast, DPP saysBy Lin Che-yuan and Jason Pan / Staff reportersThe Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday accused Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) of financial mismanagement when he was Taipei mayor, rebutting the latter’s claim that he is the best in maintaining fiscal discipline and safeguarding taxpayers’ money. “Ko is deceiving the public, touting his abilities to govern, save taxpayers’ money and pay off the city government’s debt, while accusing the central government of profligate spending,” DPP spokesman Chang Chih-hao (張志豪) told a news conference in Taipei. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Ko is known for his “eight big project failures,” which cost taxpayers more than NT$400 million, Chang said. Fourth is pursuing fiscal discipline, including stopping tax collections that have resulted in large surpluses in recent years.

Source: Taipei Times October 20, 2023 16:55 UTC