First, the latest development in the heated controversy over the pension scheme for civil servants.

After it was revealed by a KMT lawmaker on Wednesday that DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen, a steadfast critic of the current system, is also a beneficiary of its preferential interest rate program, Tsai immediately issued a statement renouncing her right to the benefit. And she held a press conference yesterday morning to defend her integrity.

The DPP has been firing broadsides at the KMT in recent weeks over the 18% preferential interest rate program for retired government officials.

On Thursday, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen was exposed as one of the beneficiaries of the program, and it was revealed that she collects more than 60,000 NT per month in interest income.

During a press conference on Friday, Tsai delivered an extremely lengthy explanation of why she has been collecting the interest income.

She said that she has over 20 years of teaching and political experience, and that when she filed her retirement papers after leaving the Mainland Affairs Council, she never thought she would be returning to the political realm.

Therefore, she decided to receive her pension in one lump sum rather than in monthly payments.

Tsai also said that she uses her interest income for innumerable charitable endeavors. She further claimed that she wished to reform the system when the DPP was in power, but that she was unable to make any headway.

In closing, Tsai said that she hoped everyone else that is eligible for the preferential interest rate can be more like her and work to reform the system.