President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday officially opened his presidential campaign headquarters in Taipei with a lively performance and a line-up of young support staff, kicking off a re--election campaign geared toward attracting first-time voters.
The ceremony featured a dancing performance by girls in their 20s and a Facebook inspired event, in which campaign team officials, local government heads and guests were invited to hit a “like” button on stage to illustrate their support for Ma.
Ma stressed the efforts of his administration over the past three years to defend the nation’s -sovereignty and maintain national security through improved cross-strait relations and vowed to continue with reforms that would lead the nation “to a better future.”
Photo: CNA
“Taiwanese demand dignity, national sovereignty and security. It is my responsibility to listen to every demand and answer every request ... I have worked hard to ensure national security, defend national sovereignty and dignity. This is my responsibility as the president,” he said at the Taipei mayor’s official residence.
“We’ve taken our place on the international stage and Taiwan is no longer the nation it was three years ago. Change has been undertaken and reform must continue. We must not move backward,” he said.
Ma’s remarks came after former Control Yuan president Fredrick Chien (錢復) challenged Ma’s desire to be a “people’s president,” saying in an article in the Chinese-language United Daily News that by trying to please everyone, Ma would inevitably lose focus and support in the presidential election campaign.
Ma’s speech was briefly interrupted by a handful of protesters outside the venue, who shouted: “Stand down Ma Ying-jeou.”
Ignoring the protestors, Ma promised to further improve the economy and open Taiwan’s doors to more opportunities by focusing more on the international relations if re-elected.
Ma, 61, will campaign under the slogan “Keep on walking, Taiwan. Victory for Taiwan” against Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Ma’s top aide, former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), will head up his campaign team, which also includes members of the legislative and executive branches, including former Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) and KMT spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓).
KMT Policy Committee executive director Lin Yi-shih (林益世), and KMT Organization and Development Committee director Huang Chao-yuan (黃昭元) will also join the campaign team.
Younger staff members will work alongside Ma’s senior aides as part of a focused campaign to win over first-time voters, with two spokespeople — Lee Chia-fei (李佳霏) and Yin Wei (殷瑋) — both under 35 years of age.
With the combined presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Jan. 14, the KMT will move its national congress from August to June 25, during which time Ma and his as yet undeclared running mate will be formally approved.
At present, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) is the favorite to be Ma’s running mate, with an announcement planned for Wednesday at the earliest.
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