Former Kaohsiung City Speaker Zhu Anxiong died of illness in China at the age of 82. His ashes have been returned to Kaohsiung.

Member and by-election member of the sixth term of Kaohsiung City Council. (Photo taken from the official website of the Parliament)

First published 9-10 22:15

Update time 9-11 06:20

Former Kaohsiung City Speaker Zhu Anxiong died of illness in China at the age of 82. People in the blue camp indirectly confirmed that Zhu Anxiong’s ashes have returned to his hometown of Kaohsiung. In 2002, Zhu Anxiong was involved in the election bribery case of the chairman and deputy speaker, which seriously injured the Kaohsiung City Council. In the end, 17 members were dismissed due to the case, and one person resigned, reaching the by-election threshold. On July 17, 2004, an unprecedented by-election of 18 members was held.

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In the Kaohsiung City Council election in 2002, there were 44 seats among the 44 members: 14 from the Democratic Progressive Party, 12 from the Kuomintang, 7 from the People's First Party, 2 from the Taiwan Federation, and 9 without party membership. The chairman and deputy speakers were elected by Zhu Anxiong and Cai Songxiong, who were independent from the party. Both of them received support from the country and the pro-government, and qualified with 25 votes.

As rumors of election bribery continued, the Democratic Progressive Party pushed Gao Zongying and Zhang Qingquan to stand for election as speaker and deputy speaker, and appointed party secretary-general Zhang Junxiong to go south to monitor the election, but they both lost. After Zhu Anxiong was elected, it aroused criticism from the outside world, and an investigation and search was launched. First, many congressmen were found out or voluntarily handed over bribes. Zhu Anxiong and Cai Songxiong were detained successively. As a result of the investigation, a total of 34 congressmen were prosecuted, and all involved were blue and green.

For this reason, the city council held consecutive extraordinary meetings to open up a "protective umbrella" and even delayed the budget review. It was not until September 25, 2004, when Zhu Anxiong was dismissed from office after he was sentenced for being involved in an election bribery case, that the council closed the umbrella. Zhu Anxiong fled overseas in early October.

After Zhu Anxiong was dismissed, the members involved in the case launched a speaker by-election in an attempt to build morale. Independent member Cai Jianxing received support from the Democratic Progressive Party and unexpectedly won the speakership. In April 2004, 17 of the 34 indicted members were dismissed after their sentences were confirmed, reaching the threshold of a full by-election. In July of that year, a city council by-election was held. Among the nine dismissed members, their family members ran for election, and only three of them won.

For related news, please see:

Former Kaohsiung City Speaker Zhu Anxiong died of illness in China. Political figures: The ashes are returned to Kaohsiung now

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