KMT establishes `winning panel' for presidential ballot

The KMT keeps forging ahead in preparing for the 2004 presidential election, setting up a task force called the "winning panel," under which several party branches will be in charge of election strategies, policymaking, image management, organizing, campaign planning and administrative affairs, KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) told the Taipei Times yesterday.

Although the panel's plan has not been fully outlined, Wu said Central Standing Committee member and former vice premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) will be responsible for improving the party's image, which is considered a difficult mission.

The KMT has suffered from serious losses of young voters in the past two years. One goal for the task force is to lower the average age of KMT members and recruit younger politicians to serve in important party posts in order to win these young voters over, according to Wu.

Aimed at achieving this goal, the party has tried to negotiate with elderly members, asking them not to compete for Central Standing Committee posts. Elections for the posts will be held on Saturday.

The Central Standing Committee is the party's most influential policymaking unit.

"The composition of the Central Standing Committee must be adjusted to respond to the coming presidential election," KMT spokeswoman Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) said yesterday.

Kuo said that electing more young politicians to the Central Standing Committee is necessary to elevate the KMT's image.

"What we won't change is putting Taiwan as our priority and sticking to the central route. What we will change is getting more support from youths and letting young members share responsibilities," Kuo said.

KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖), who has actively searched for support for his candidacy in Saturday's election, said the "KMT has no choice. Becoming younger is an unavoidable path for us.

"We don't have a chance to compete with DPP if our party fails to be reorganized and win over more young voters," he said.

In addition to adjusting the composition of the Central Standing Committee, the party is also hoping to increase its competitiveness by recruiting more student volunteers to help out at local party branches.

From now until the end of this month, the party plans to recruit 50 youths to become volunteers serving as deputy directors at local party branches.

"Via promoting the volunteer system, we hope the KMT can last forever. Young people are full of vigor. They will help us push for policies with their enthusiasm," Wu said.