Chances are increasing that Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) will announce a bid for president, according to sources close to Wang.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) representative in Kaohsiung Lee Po-jung (李柏融) said that Wang has started to motivate his staff and will be convening party members this week to initiate the signature drive required to run for the KMT presidential nomination.
Wang has remained equivocal about his intentions.
Photo: Su Meng-chuan, Taipei Times
“I’m not saying that I will run, but I’m not saying I will not, either,” Wang said yesterday.
Wang was at China Medical University in Taichung yesterday to receive an honorary doctorate.
During the ceremony, Academia Sinica’s Lo Hao (羅浩), another honorary doctorate recipient, said that while he has become Wang’s “schoolmate,” Wang would probably be a president next year; a quip that brought a round of laughter from audience members.
Wang said he has been busy in the legislature recently, reiterating that he remained undecided.
When asked about New Taipei City Mayor and KMT Chairman Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) declaration on Friday that he would not make a bid for next year’s election, Wang said he respects Chu’s decision.
When asked whether it would possible for him to work with People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), Wang said he and Soong have worked together on many issues.
Former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bing (郝龍斌), who on Thursday said Chu was “in deep contemplation” over the possibility of running for president, was at the KMT’s office in Kaohsiung on Friday.
Political observers said that it seems Hau is watching Wang closely for any developments over a possible announcement of a presidential bid.
Kaohsiung City Farmers’ Association secretary-general Hsiao Han-chun (蕭漢俊) said that Wang’s possible goal of vying for the nation’s top job meets the expectations of many members of farmers’ and fishermen’s associations.
Once it is confirmed that Wang is to run, not only would Kaohsiung’s fishermen’s association respond to his campaign needs, the farmers’ associations across the nation, which have received aid from Wang, would join the effort and collect signatures for him, Hsiao said.
Since last month, Wang has been invited to attend events almost every weekend. The southern counties and cities have been particularly enthusiastic, party sources said.
The events include meetings with KMT members and gatherings with city and county associations, women’s associations, charity groups and major temple festivals.
Many of Kaohsiung’s KMT councilors and legislators believe that the time is ripe for Wang to announce his intention to run for president, party sources said, adding that an official declaration could be made this week.
Meanwhile, KMT Kaohsiung City chapter director Hsu Fu-ming (許福明) said the office would follow the nomination procedure promulgated by the party, accepting applications from those who want to sign up.
As for Wang’s intentions, “I am not in a position to comment,” Hsu said.
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