Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Greater Taichung mayoral candidate Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Changhua County commissioner candidate Wei Ming-ku (魏明谷) announced their resignations from the legislature yesterday to demonstrate their determination and devotion to their campaigns.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), who is seeking re-election, said the move was as a mere election tactic, while KMT Legislator and Changhua County commissioner candidate Lin Tsang-min (林滄敏) said he would not follow suit.
Lin Chia-lung and Wei announced their resignations at a press conference held with DPP Nantou County commissioner candidate Lee Wen-chung (李文忠), in which they said they would fighttogether for a DPP whitewash in central Taiwan.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Lin Chia-lung said central Taiwan is at “a turning point in its history.”
In the face of fierce global competition, the welfare of the region’s 4.5 million residents hinges upon the public’s “right choice,” he added.
The three “would together eradicate corruption and irresponsible politics, push for regional governance, and provide the best public services and most efficient administrations,” to give the communities a “brand-new” look, he said.
Wei said that the region could become a “common living circle,” which — under the three candidates’ policy of regional governance — could cooperate and and provide mutual aid when needed.
“[We] will not participate in the legislative by-election [expected to be held later],” Lin Chia-lung added.
As for the timing of the resignations, he said that it had been a key decision at a key time.
Hu said while the resignations can be considered “a responsible move,” Lin Chia-lung “should not have run for legislator at the very beginning if he knew he was going to run for Taichung mayor.”
Questioning the timing of Lin’s resignation, Hu added that it would have been better had Lin quit when he decided to run for mayor.
“You could have [done so], but you have waited for 10 months before making the final decision. It is likely to make people think it is an election strategy and it is a pity that the sincerity of the resignation will be called into questioned,” Hu said.
Wei’s rival, Lin Tsang-min, said being an elected legislator is a promise to voters and he would not quit easily, adding that DPP Pingtung County commissioner candidate Pan Men-an (潘孟安), DPP Miaoli County commissioner candidate Wu Yi-chen (吳宜臻) and DPP Taitung County commissioner candidate Liu Chao-hao (劉櫂豪) are also legislators.
He asked DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and the party’s candidates to apologize to the public for “finagling votes” by using “news sensationalism” when the party is “lagging behind” in the election campaign.
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