KMT changes line-up in wake of legislative defeat

The opposition KMT yesterday carried out a partial change of its line-up in the wake of its Dec. 1 election defeat.

The KMT Central Standing Committee approved the changes at its regular weekly meeting.

James Chen (陳健治), deputy executive director of the KMT's Policy Committee, took the chairmanship of the party's Organization and Development Committee, left vacant by Chao Shou-po (趙守博), who tendered his resignation to take responsibility for the KMT's poor performance.

Chen, 57, has a masters degree from Missouri State University and has served as speaker of the Taipei City Council and as KMT legislator-at-large.

Wu Ching-chi (吳清基), who ran for the post of Tainan county chief and lost to ruling DPP candidate Su Huan-chih(蘇煥智), became head of the party's Culture and Communications Committee, replacing Wang Chih-kang(王志剛), who also tendered his resignation.

Wu, 50, has a doctorate from National Taiwan Normal University and pursued post-doctoral studies at Missouri University and London University.

Wu is a visiting professor at Harvard University.

Outgoing Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中), who lost his re-election bid, took the post of chairman of the KMT's Taipei City chapter, replacing Chan Tsun-po, who also resigned.

Ting, 47, has a doctorate in international political science from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the US.

In Kaohsiung, the party had originally appointed Ke San-chi (柯三吉), dean of the Public Affairs Faculty of National Taipei University, to replace Lee Yuan-chuan (李源泉) -- who also resigned -- as Kaohsiung Chapter chairman.

However, Ke's appointment came under strong opposition from the chapter members, forcing the KMT Central Committee to seek an alternative candidate.

Outgoing Legislator Lee Cheng-chong (李正宗) took over as director of the party's social welfare department, outgoing Legislator Pan Wei-kang(潘維剛) was named head of the women's affairs department and Chang Chuang-hsi (張壯熙) took over the youth affairs department.