Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman and presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday continued to defend the party’s highly criticized lineup of legislator-at-large candidates, saying they are all remarkable individuals in their respective fields.
Chu made the remarks at a news conference at KMT headquarters yesterday morning to introduce nine of the party’s 34 legislator-at-large candidates, in an apparent attempt to assuage growing criticism that its lineup is the “lamest in history.”
Lee Kuang-yi (李光儀), a journalist with the Chinese-language United Daily Evening News, traditionally a pan-blue-leaning newspaper, on Friday called the list the “lamest ever in history.”
Six of the candidates are on the KMT’s “safe” list of 12: Tamkang University dean of student affairs Ko Chih-en (柯志恩); Kaohsiung Medical University vice president Arthur Chen (陳宜民); Taiwan New Immigrant Development and Exchange Association director-general Lin Li-chan (林麗蟬), a Cambodian immigrant; TEDxTaipei cofounder Jason Hsu (許毓仁); Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman William Tseng (曾銘宗); and KMT Legislator Alicia Wang (王育敏), who specializes in children’s welfare.
The other three are Hu Chu-sheng (胡筑生), secretary-general of the KMT’s Huang Fu-hsing (黃復興) special military veterans’ branch; Overseas Community Affairs Council member Jennifer Tung (童惠珍); and KMT Legislator Lee Guei-min (李貴敏), who specializes in judicial matters.
“While different generations [of KMT members] might have different opinions about the party’s legislator-at-large list, the KMT is a party of tolerance and is not ruled by the voice of one man alone,” Chu said.
Chu said the last thing he wants is for the KMT to be reduced to a party like the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has been dominated solely by the so-called “Ing’s Clique” (英派), a group of self-proclaimed reformers within the DPP that have identified themselves with the party’s chairperson and presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
“My goal is to bring together individuals with different voices and various areas of expertise, and to allow them to leverage their capabilities in January’s legislative elections, whether they are vying for a regional or legislator-at-large seat in the legislature,” Chu said.
Chu said candidates such as Wang and Lee can pass on their experience in the legislature to their peers, while other candidates can use their respective specialties to formulate better policies if elected next year.
Hsu, who is fifth on the list and on Saturday received the most votes (66) of disapproval at a meeting of the KMT’s Central Committee, said that while his name might seem unfamiliar to many, dissenting voices in the party have encouraged him to learn more from senior members.
“I am determined to bring the KMT closer to the young generation and usher in changes in the process... I will also humbly learn and seek guidance from senior party members,” Hsu said.
Hsu’s nomination came 13 votes short of being revoked at Saturday’s meeting, during which a total of 158 committee members voted to approve the list of legislator-at-large nominees amid strong opposition from within the party.
He was followed by Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), Chu’s campaign office spokesperson, at 60 votes against and KMT Yilan chapter director Lin Hsin-hua (林信華) at 55 votes against.
Dismissing speculation that he leans toward the pan-green camp, which was prompted by his going down on one knee before Tsai at a public forum in August, Jason Hsu said the move was intended only to lighten up the atmosphere at the scene.
“Of course I support Chairman Chu [in the upcoming presidential election],” Jason Hsu added.
Meanwhile, Ko said that today, older people have to be critical of the ruling party to be able to communicate with and stand alongside the younger generation.
“I have also become one of these people,” Ko said. “However, after joining the KMT’s team, I realized there are actually many hardworking individuals inside that the younger generation are unaware of. I will endeavor to make them see that.”
Meanwhile, Hu, who is ranked 13th on the list, acknowledged a link between former Huang Fu-hsing director Tai Po-te’s (戴伯特) recent resignation — reportedly due to an eye disorder — and the KMT leadership’s decision to give Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) the top spot on the list, despite the group’s opposition.
“Sometimes, emotions can affect one’s health... Although the branch recently issued a statement expressing our regret over such a decision, we still call for solidarity within the party,” Hu said on the sidelines of the event.
Asked if he was satisfied with the candidate lineup, Hu said that even a list proposed by God or Buddha could not please everyone, but at least the one compiled by KMT headquarters was approved by the party’s Central Standing Committee through a democratic process.
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