Blue camp chokes Lai Ruilong for accepting green energy donations and holding public hearings TRENA: Congress’s responsibilities should not be stigmatized

The Blue Camp criticized the Democratic Progressive Party's Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Lai Ruilong for accepting political donations from Cloud Leopard Energy, and has successively held relevant public hearings and proposals. The Taiwan Renewable Energy Promotion Alliance (TRENA) today stated that whether political donations are legal or involve consideration relationships must be determined based on specific facts and laws. Public hearings and law amendments are the normal duties of Congress and should not be stigmatized.

TRENA’s three-point statement: 1. The energy transition does not distinguish between parties, and cross-party cooperation has already achieved concrete results; 2. Convening public hearings and amending laws are normal responsibilities of Congress and should not be stigmatized; 3. Stop using electoral offense and defense to deny public policies, and look forward to continued cross-party cooperation.

TRENA pointed out that since its establishment in 2015, it has continued to cooperate with legislators from different parties to help solve the institutional obstacles faced by the development of renewable energy through policy forums, public hearings and legal amendment initiatives. Over the years, members including Jiang Wanan, Chen Manli, Tian Qiujin, Lai Ruilong, Cai Qichang, and cross-party members of the Legislative Yuan Sustainable Development Promotion Association have held energy-related public hearings to support energy transition.

Historical records show that the development of renewable energy has never been the preserve of a single political party, but is a public policy with the participation of different parties. Moreover, renewable energy development involves complex issues such as land, construction, power grids, finance, environmental protection, and social communication. Solutions that are in the public interest can only be found through discussions between the executive branch, Congress, industry, experts, scholars, and civil society.

Legislators hold public hearings, listen to frontline opinions, help clarify administrative and regulatory obstacles, and promote necessary legislative amendments. This is an important responsibility of the democratic Congress. The value of public hearings lies in allowing public issues to be seen and allowing different opinions to enter policy discussions. It is not presumed that there is an improper exchange of interests just because of the number of times they are held.

TRENA pointed out that it supports the examination of political affairs in Congress, and also supports the investigation of any behavior that may involve the transfer of improper benefits. However, whether political donations are legal and whether they involve consideration relationships must be based on specific evidence and legal determination. It cannot be determined that there is an illegal exchange of benefits just because a company has provided political donations or a legislator has held a public hearing or promoted relevant law amendments.