In response to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators' remarks that he supports former president Chen Shui-bian's bid for medical parole, Premier Sean Chen said today that he cannot support any particular individual's bid for medical parole, as such decisions are the responsibility of Ministry of Justice's Agency of Correction. Any intervention would violate the Prison Act, the premier noted.
The question of former president Chen's medical parole was brought up by DPP legislators Hsu Tain-tsair and Chen Tang-shan when they encountered Premier Chen in the legislative hall this morning. The premier pointed out that medical parole is both a scientific and a legal issue, and any such motion must be backed by experts and proceed according to law.
Premier Chen said presidential and vice presidential retirement benefits should be looked at as a whole, but the DPP's medical parole request only targets one former president whose benefits were rescinded due to criminal convictions. Chen said he believes the country should take responsibility for providing the basic daily and medical care of all retired presidents and vice presidents who are struggling even after their benefits are revoked due to misbehavior or time limits. The lawmakers, therefore, should contemplate all relevant laws when proposing changes instead of backing the parole bid of a single person.