A Taipei court on Monday released Ko Wen-je, the former mayor of Taipei and current head of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), from custody. Ko had been arrested on Saturday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into a major property development project in the Taiwanese capital. Prosecutors had raided Ko’s home and TPP headquarters, questioning him for hours. However, the court ultimately ruled that there was insufficient evidence to detain him further. Ko maintains his innocence and expressed confusion regarding the prosecution’s motives, stating he had done nothing wrong. Taipei prosecutors, however, have announced their intention to appeal the court’s decision.
The release comes amid another separate scandal involving Ko and the TPP, where irregularities in campaign fund reporting during the recent presidential election have been acknowledged. This has led Ko to temporarily step down as party chairman while the case is under investigation. He has also offered an apology to party supporters.
These incidents have significantly impacted Ko’s political standing and the TPP’s prospects. While Ko was widely expected to run for president again in 2028, recent opinion polls indicate that the campaign fund scandal has significantly damaged his support and the TPP’s image. The TPP, founded in 2019, aimed to establish a third force in Taiwanese politics. Despite having only eight seats in the 113-member parliament, the TPP plays a significant role, particularly as neither the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) nor the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), holds a majority.
Earlier this year, the TPP and KMT joined forces to push through reforms granting parliament greater oversight power, sparking mass protests. These reforms, opposed by President Lai Ching-te’s DPP, are currently being reviewed by Taiwan’s constitutional court. The current situation raises questions about the future of Ko’s political career and the TPP’s ability to remain a significant force in Taiwanese politics.
