Public Q&A Session with Major-Party Presidential Candidates Hosted by Legal Professional Organizations

With the presidential election day fast approaching, the media is flooded with various election news. Unfortunately, most airtime and column space remains dominated by political bickering, while substantive campaign platforms and appeals are completely marginalized.

In view of this, four legal professional organizations—the Taiwan Bar Association, the Judicial Reform Foundation, the Taipei Bar Association, and the Taiwan Law Society—have decided to jointly host a public Q&A session for the two major-party presidential candidates. The questions will cover legal professionals' shared concerns, including constitutional reform, judicial reform, and human rights protection. This event aims to provide the candidates with a platform to freely elaborate on their basic policy directions regarding national rule of law and people's well-being, serving as a reference for voters and as a basis for holding future policies accountable.

Both presidential candidates have studied law; one formerly served as the Minister of Justice, while the other has practiced as an attorney for a long time. They ought to demonstrate the professional literacy and reform vision expected of a potential legal-professional president. It is hoped that such an arrangement may reverse the negative electoral climate of concern to intellectuals and showcase the high-quality substance of a democratic election.

The Q&A session has been scheduled for 7:00 PM on February 25 at the NTUH International Convention Center. Inquirers nominated by the four organizations will engage in a question-and-answer format, with the two presidential candidates answering in person. The event will be open to media coverage, and members of the four organizations may register in advance. Due to limited seating capacity, participation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

The organizers held a press conference on January 30 to publicly announce the above initiative. Following close communication and consultation with both campaigns, presidential candidate Hsieh Chang-ting has formally expressed his willingness to participate and take questions. As for presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, as of the issuance of this event notice, he has not yet formally expressed his willingness to participate. To comprehensively present the relevant policy platforms of both sides, the organizers are continuing to contact Ma Ying-jeou's presidential campaign team, hoping he will seize this rare opportunity for a public dialogue with the legal professional community.

Public Q&A Session with Major-Party Presidential Candidates Hosted by Legal Professional Organizations

• Time: Monday, February 25, 2008, at 7:00 PM
• Location: Room 401, NTUH International Convention Center (No. 2, Xuzhou Rd., Taipei City)