Taipei: The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment Tuesday that adds convictions under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act to the list of offenses disqualifying individuals from running for president or vice president in Taiwan. The amendment, introduced by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling, revised Article 26 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act.

According to Focus Taiwan, Weng emphasized the need for presidential candidates to uphold a higher standard of integrity than ordinary citizens, given the significant responsibility of leading the country. She argued that allowing individuals convicted of serious fraud charges, which the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act addresses, to run for presidency would contradict the integrity standards expected of public officials in democratic societies.

The practical impact of adding provisions from the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, based on Article 339-4 of the Criminal Code, to the election law remains uncertain. During the committee review, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) noted that fraud violations were already listed as disqualifying offenses in the election law. Amendments to the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act and the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act in June 2023 already barred individuals convicted of aggravated fraud under Article 339-4 from seeking public office.

The MOI expressed that while the amendment might not significantly alter candidate eligibility, it would respect the Legislature's decision should there be a consensus. The Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, effective July 2024, imposes increased penalties for offenses under Article 339-4. The newly passed amendment will take effect upon promulgation by the president.