20 Facts About Chen Chu

Chen Chu or Kiku Chen is a Taiwanese politician serving as president of the Control Yuan and Chair of the National Human Rights Commission since 2020.

Chen Chu was put behind bars for almost six years during the martial law period in Taiwan.

Chen Chu had served in various capacities with the Taipei and Kaohsiung city governments between 1995 and 2000, with the latter being the year when she graduated from the National Sun Yat-sen University with a master's degree in public affairs.

Chen Chu then served as Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs, the precursor to present-day Ministry of Labor, in various cabinets between 2000 and 2005.

Chen Chu won the 2006 Kaohsiung mayoral election and became the Republic of China's first directly-elected female mayor of a special municipality.

The Democratic Progressive Party, which Chen Chu helped to found, temporarily suspended her membership during her tenure as President of the Control Yuan according to party rules.

Chen Chu had expressed hopes of becoming the last President of the Control Yuan after helping to secure passage of the amendments to the Constitution.

Chen Chu narrowly defeated the Kuomintang candidate Huang Jun-ying with a margin of just 1,120 votes in the 2006 Kaohsiung mayoral election.

Chen Chu argued airing of a video, produced by Chen's campaign team, on the eve of the election resulted in his loss.

Chen Chu expressed her intention to appeal to the court upon knowing the verdict.

Chen Chu claimed it would be a political suicide if she accepted the ruling.

Chen Chu assured the public in April 2009 she would improve the water quality of Chienchen River, nicknamed "Heilungchiang" by the locals for its apparent pollution.

Chen Chu vowed to make Kaohsiung a city not just notable for the beauty of the Love River.

Chen Chu addressed then-President Ma Ying-jeou with his formal title during the meeting with Guo, which garnered much support from her party and the Kaohsiung City Council.

Chen Chu said Kaohsiung would no longer be known only as the second largest city in Taiwan, but the one that hosted the best World Games ever.

Chen Chu was criticized for having a nap in her residence while many parts of Kaohsiung were flooded during Typhoon Fanapi on 19 September 2010.

Chen Chu tearfully apologized, saying she felt guilty for taking a rest.

Chen Chu alleged the local government did not maintain properly the flood control facilities.

Chen Chu was running against the Kuomintang candidate Huang Chao-shun and independent candidate Yang Chiu-hsing in her first reelection campaign.

Kaohsiung residents criticized Chen Chu for taking an apathetic attitude in the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions.