The DPP has stars in its eyes and is attempting to enlist actress Chiang Hsia (
But Chiang, a board member of Taiwan Television (TTV) and long-time backer of President Chen Shui-bian (
"I have never planned to get involved in politics and the DPP has never talked to me about that either," Chiang told reporters yesterday, saying the reports were just speculation.
Chiang said that she would like to focus her efforts on reforming TTV. She added, however, that audience members of a radio call-in show in southern Taiwan did suggest on the air that she run for the legislature.
DPP candidate for legislator at-large Chiu Chang (
Given Chiang's star power and grass-roots background, Chiu said, the television actress should have little problem getting elected.
Chiang also has the backing of first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), according to Power News (
But Hsu Jen-tu (許仁圖), the DPP's deputy secretary-general, yesterday poured cold water on speculation that Chiang would run, saying "the possibility is slim."
The DPP is in need of a female to represent its field of candidates for the Pingtung County constituency.
In Sunday's party primary elections, three of the DPP's four slots were awarded to males: incumbent legislators Tsao Chi-hung (
According to party rules, at least one out of every four candidacies must go to a woman to encourage their participation in politics.
In the December general election, the top seven vote-getters will represent Pingtung County.
Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩), a Pingtung native who was once tapped to run at home after losing her candidacy in the southern Taipei District, said yesterday that she had not ruled out the possibility of running for legislator in Pingtung County.
Chiu questioned yesterday whether Chiang was qualified to represent the DPP, noting that the actress wasn't even a party member.
A self-proclaimed revolutionary, Chiang drew attention by stumping for Chen Shui-bian as early as 1995 in the Taipei mayoral election -- at a time when most entertainers tended to support the KMT.
After Chen won the presidential election, Chiang was given a board seat at the KMT-dominated TTV.
An actress for 30 years, Chiang recently brought to light the entertainment industry's "red envelop culture," whereby bribes are paid to television executives to ensure that programs are put on the air.
The revelations have generated controversy over the management of television stations in Taiwan.
A signaling system malfunction disrupted high-speed rail (HSR) services beginning at 8am today, with trains temporarily reduced to three northbound and three southbound trains per hour as authorities conduct inspections. The malfunction occurred on a section of track in Miaoli County during pre-operation checks early this morning, forcing northbound and southbound trains to use a single track, the HSR operator said. The regular schedule has been replaced with three hourly trains offering only nonreserved seating in each direction, stopping at every station, it said, adding that business class cars would still have reserved seating. Departures from terminal stations are scheduled at the top
Taiwan is still in the process of assessing the possibility of recruiting workers from Eswatini, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, adding that its goal is to help Eswatini upgrade its vocational training centers. If there are plans to recruit workers from Eswatini, safeguarding national security, protecting public health and ensuring the employment rights of Taiwanese would be prerequisites, Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Yen Chia-liang (顏嘉良) told a news conference. Key considerations would also include filling labor shortages in specific industries, and fostering bilateral professional and technical exchanges, he said. Yen was asked about the progress of labor
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