Annette Lu
Annette Lu (Chinese吕秀莲, Pinyin Lǚ Xiulian; born June 7, 1944 in Taoyuan, Republic of China) was from 2000 to 2008 Vice -President of the Republic of China on Taiwan. It belongs to the Democratic Progressive Party (DDP).
- 3.1 Political controversies
- 3.2 Party chairmanship of the DDP
- 3.3 presidential candidacy
- 3.4 Allegations of corruption
Education and political engagement
Lu was born in Taoyuan and received her degree at the prestigious Taipei First Girls' High School. She then studied law at the National Taiwan University. After her graduation in 1967 she earned a Master of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and an additional master's degree at Harvard University.
During the 1970s, she made herself a name in Taiwan as an advocate of feminist ideas, not least through a book entitled Principles of the New Women (Chinese新 女性 主义, Pinyin Xin Nǚxìngzhǔyì, New feminism '). They also joined the Dangwai movement and worked for the Formosa Magazine. In 1974 she survived a cancer of the throat.
On December 10, 1979, she spoke at a rally and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison for sedition. The events of that day with the arrest of several opposition members were known as the Kaohsiung Incident. After five years and four months, she was released on parole for medical reasons, because she suffered from thyroid cancer.
After the end of martial law in Taiwan in 1987 she was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 1993. In 1997 she won the provincial election in Taoyuan and was governor of their home province. In the presidential elections of 2000, she was elected to the side of presidential candidate Chen Shui -bian Vice President.
Vice-Presidency 2000-2004
Political controversies
Lu Hsiu-lien entered therefore attacked as President Chen Shui -bian and also became more violent by the Government of the People's Republic of China and by the proponents of a Chinese reunification much more directly for Taiwan's independence. This also led to differences with the president, they even publicly accused on one occasion, he wanted her to play the evil, that he shall stand better. However, the President had the deny.
In the months before the presidential election of 2004, there was therefore a lot of speculation about whether Chen would make it back to his candidate for vice president. Leading members of the party had urged him to choose a less controversial candidate to appeal to swing voters as the stronger. However, the President was unimpressed and nominated Lu on December 11, 2003 for a further term.
Assassination in 2004
On 19 March 2004, one day before the election, both candidates were shot during an election rally in Tainan. Lu got a shot in the kneecap while Chen suffered a glancing blow on the belly. Both were slightly injured and were able to leave the hospital the same day Chi -mei. The Pan - Blue coalition, political opponents, claimed the attack was asked to get a sympathy bonus in the election. Chen and Lu won the elections by a margin of only 0.2%. After the election of a commission of inquiry was set up, which investigated the incident and the President relieved. However, there are still doubts about the official version of events.
Vice-Presidency 2004-2008
Political controversies
Also in the new legislature, there were disputes over remarks by Vice-President, who is known for her political beliefs to represent open. At a meeting with Taiwanese immigrants in San Francisco, she suggested that in " Taiwanese Republic of China" to change the name of the State in order to calm the debate about the identity of Taiwan. This proposal led to a heated discussion between supporters of Taiwan independence, reject the name "Republic of China " because it implies that the territory of China is, and their opponents, who in the opinion of the Vice-President of a violation of the policies of the five noes recognized. Lu also explained that she had merely expressed a personal opinion, no official proposal.
Party chaired by the DDP
Following the resignation of the DDP - chairman Su Tseng- chang, who took over the responsibility for the party's defeat in the local elections of December 2005, the Executive Committee of the party Lu appointed on 7 December, the Acting Chairman. Already on 12 December, she put the chair surprisingly low on the grounds that she wanted to stay out of party infighting. However, the local press reported, citing unnamed officials DDP, President Chen was concerned about the appointment of Lu and their possible ambitions on the regular chair.
Lu's resignation came after Chen had canceled a meeting with her. In a surprising twist it however two days later recanted her resignation back, considering that at the request of committee members. On January 15, 2006 creates Yu Shyi -kun was elected as the new Chairman of the DDP.
Presidential candidacy
On March 6, 2007, she made her candidacy for the presidential elections of 2008, drew this after a bad result at the internal party primaries but back again.
Allegations of corruption
On September 21, 2007 Vice President Lu was accused by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of China. The allegations are denominated in embezzlement and use of false receipts for payment of expenses totaling U.S. $ 165,000 from a government account. Together with her, also the leader of the DDP, Yu Shyi -kun was, among other things, accused, who then resigned the presidency.