In a continuing struggle within the KMT over who should represent the party in a crucial local by-election, party officials appear to be buying more time as they face continued resistance from yet another would-be candidate. The election for the post of commissioner is seen as a litmus test in the run-up to next year's presidential polls.
In an apparent attempt to further convince Deputy Director-General of the National Police Administration (NPA) Wang Chun (
Party officials continued to meet late into last night in an attempt to solve the impasse, with contradictory claims over whether or not Wang had accepted the nomination. An official said Yunlin County Council speaker Chen Ching-hsiu (
One KMT spokesman said if Wang Chun insists on turning down the nomination, current Yunlin County KMT chairman Chang Cheng-hsiung (
Following the refusal three days ago by Taipei District Court judge Wang Pei-chih (
Further meetings are planned for this morning before the party's Central Standing Committee finalizes the appointment of a nominee. Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) was scheduled to attend the discussions.
In order to pressure Wang Chun to join the race, KMT heavyweights continued meeting with him, among them, Premier Vincent Siew (
Although facing enormous pressure from party officials, Wang said yesterday that due to personal considerations, he had no option but to refuse the party's offer.
"Time will not wait for me, and time is the biggest factor to influence my decision," Wang said.
He explained that the by-election is scheduled for Oct. 16, which means he has less than a month to prepare his campaign.
"I would have to visit a town a day. It's `mission impossible'," he said.
He added that he would be eligible to retire from his current post in two years.
"If by accepting the nomination I have to quit my current position and throw myself into an unexpected election race, I have to admit that would I lack any real incentive to participate," he said.
Chang Cheng-hsiung, the other possible nominee, yesterday echoed Wang's sentiment.
"Time is the most crucial element in determining by-election results. The longer the delay, the more disadvantageous our position," Chang said.
He appeared optimistic about his party's chances of winning, regardless of which candidate will stand in the by-election.
"The KMT will take at least 50 to 60 percent of the votes in Yunlin County. As long as we select a good candidate, I have great confidence we will keep the county," he said.
When asked whether he has any intention to run, Chang implied that there was little choice involved when it came down to it.
"I am a party official. I have to no alternative but to respect the party's decision," Chang said.
The by-election was made necessary after the death last month of the late county commissioner Su Wen-hsiung (
An Emirates flight from Dubai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday afternoon, the first service of the airline since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday. Flight EK366 took off from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 3:51am yesterday and landed at 4:02pm before taxiing to the airport’s D6 gate at Terminal 2 at 4:08pm, data from the airport and FlightAware, a global flight tracking site, showed. Of the 501 passengers on the flight, 275 were Taiwanese, including 96 group tour travelers, the data showed. Tourism Administration Deputy Director-General Huang He-ting (黃荷婷) greeted Taiwanese passengers at the airport and
POSSIBILITIES EMERGE: With Taiwan’s victory and Japan’s narrow win over Australia, Taiwan now have a chance to advance if South Korea also beat the Aussies Taiwan has high hopes that the national baseball team would advance to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarter-finals after clinching a crucial 5-4 victory over South Korea in a nail-biting extra-inning game at the Tokyo Dome yesterday. Boosted by three home runs — two solo shots by Yu Chang (張育成) and Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) and a two-run homer by Stuart Fairchild — the triumph gave Taiwan a much-needed second victory in the five-team Pool C, where only the top two finishers would advance to the knockout stage in Miami, Florida. Entering extra innings with the game tied at four apiece, Taiwan scored
STRAIT OF HORMUZ: In the case of a prolonged blockade by Iran, Taiwan would look to sources of LNG outside the Middle East, including Australia and the US Taiwan would not have to ration power due to a shortage of natural gas, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said yesterday, after reports that the Strait of Hormuz was closed amid the conflict in the Middle East. The government has secured liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies for this month and contingency measures are in place if the conflict extends into next month, Kung told lawmakers. Saying that 25 percent of Taiwan’s natural gas supplies are from Qatar, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) asked about the situation in light of the conflict. There would be “no problems” with
PLANE HIT: The Israeli military said it shot down an Iranian Air Force fighter over Tehran, while an Iranian warship sank off Sri Lanka, with no cause known The US and Israel yesterday hit Iran’s capital and other cities in multiple airstrikes on the fifth day of the war with Iran. Israel targeted the Iranian leadership and security forces, while the Islamic Republic responded with missile barrages and drone attacks on Israel, and across the region. Tehran residents woke to dawn blasts and Iranian state television showed the ruins of building in the center of the capital. The Shiite seminary city of Qom and multiple other cities were also targeted. With fighter jets roaring overhead, those still in Tehran looked anxiously to the skies. One man, who ran a clothing shop,
RSS