Lien says country's honor at stake

KMT Chairman Lien Chan, second right, looks overjoyed to meet Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, right, yesterday in Taipei after Ma submitted a collection of signatures as endorsement for Lien's presidential bid. PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said he will run in next year's presidential election for the sake of the country's honor, affluence and the well-being of its people.

"It is for the sake of bringing back Taiwan's honor, wealth and its people's well-being that I am fighting this fight," Lien said.

"The fortunes of the KMT have declined over the past years," he said. "But the party is sure to rise and stage a comeback as long as it unites and has the public's support."

Lien made the remarks while receiving a traditional Chinese painting presented by local arts organizations in support of his presidential bid.

The painting is a collaborative effort by groups of approximately 50 artists and it depicts Lien standing in front of the Presidential Office, waving to a crowd.

Last month, Lien and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) signed a memorandum of understanding on the formation of a KMT-PFP alliance and a joint ticket for next year's presidential election, with Soong running for vice-president.

Lien formally launched his presidential bid last Wednesday by filing an application that was to register his candidacy for the KMT's party primary.

Since KMT officials kicked off the party's nomination process earlier this month, the party has organized several campaign groups to try and whip up support for Lien.

Last Saturday the KMT

established a women's campaign group, predominantly made up of women legislators, to rally female voters for Lien

Also, last week a group of show-business people visited Lien at the KMT headquarters to endorse his presidential bid.

In related news, Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday gave Lien a collection of signatures from members of the Taipei City Government endorsing his presidential bid.

Under the KMT's presidential-primary regulations, Lien must obtain the endorsement of 50,000 party members to be eligible to be a candidate in the primary.

"As of today, the endorsements obtained by Lien exceed 110,000 signatures," KMT spokesman Justin Chou (周守訓) said.

The deadline for registering for the party primary is today.

Lien is the only party member to have announced his candidacy, but Chou said yesterday that three other potential candidates had collected registration application materials.

The party's national congress meeting is slated for March the 30, during which time the party nomination process will be officially completed.

It is expected the party's presidential candidate would then be approved and affirmed.