KMT to hold meetings with local party chiefs

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday announced that the party will hold meetings on a regular basis with the KMT's 10 local government chiefs to assist their administrations.

Lien said the system is designed to improve local administrations, rejecting speculation that it is an alliance formed to compete with the DPP-controlled central government.

"Our main purpose is to give our people a brand-new feeling. The KMT will offer a new vision for local administration by focusing on incorruptibility, efficiency and excellence," Lien said.

Though the KMT experienced a severe setback in the legislative elections on Dec. 1, the party won nine out of the 23 county commissioner and mayoral positions in the local government elections held on the same day.

These included Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, Taichung County, Yunlin County, Hualien County, Penghu County, Keelung City, Hsinchu City and Taichung City.

With Taipei City included, the KMT now has control of more than 10 localities.

Lien said that the result of the elections indicates the public's expectations for the party, and it is obliged to react strategically to these expectations by continuing to expand its services to the party's people.

Lien made the announcement after his first meeting with the new local government chiefs, who were sworn in on Dec. 20.

In the future, Lien will host a coordinating meeting every three months with the local government chiefs, and the meetings will take place in different localities.

In addition to party officials and local government chiefs, the KMT legislative caucus whip and head of the party's think tank will also attend the meetings.

Meetings will include discussions over major local development projects and budgetary planning, coordination between local governments and consultation on the government chiefs' campaign platforms and public policies.

According to KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正), the party's think tank, legislative caucus and the local government chiefs will unite to strengthen the party.

The local government chiefs, meanwhile, released a joint statement yesterday to articulate their commitments to the people.

"The KMT will remember its failures, get rid of the drawbacks that have drawn much public criticism and strive forward for our beloved Taiwan," they said in the statement.

"Presenting administrative achi-evements is a starting point for the KMT to restore the people's faith in the party," they added.