Recent accusations against several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates sparked concern within the party ahead of the Dec. 3 local government elections, with some members challenging the party on its failure to fire back immediately.
"Attacking our candidates with defamatory VCDs is despicable and low. Also, Taipei County commissioner candidate Chou Hsi-wei [
KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (
PHOTO: CNA
"The KMT has failed to have a solid response to the smear campaign of the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP], and we need to respond immediately to these accusations, instead of making comments only when the media asks questions," he said.
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"The DPP will launch more despicable moves as the elections approach, so our candidates should clarify any accusations at once, but avoid getting entangled in the smear campaign," he said.
The VCDs, which were seized by Taoyuan police last Friday night, were allegedly made to blacken the names of Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lun (朱立倫) and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強), and implied that Ma is gay.
Accusations against the party's candidate for Taipei County commissioner, Chou, by his DPP opponent, Luo, have also raised concerns within the party.
Chou yesterday filed a libel suit against Luo, who had claimed that Chou exploited his previous post as provincial councilor to default on a multi-million dollar loan.
Ma urged party candidates to pay attention to "tricks" by the DPP and to avoid being complacent even if polls showed they were in the lead.
"We need to bear in mind that an army puffed up with pride is bound to lose, and should continue our efforts to win the elections," he said.
Ma also announced that the party will invite all of its candidates to sign a "clean election pledge" next Wednesday.
The candidates will promise that the party "will not buy votes during the election and will not turn corrupt if elected."
Meanwhile, the KMT Central Standing Committee passed a proposal on an "anti-corruption and save Taiwan" rally to be held on next Sunday.
The rally -- with the theme of fighting "corruption, rottenness and insider trading," and striving for "honesty, justice and prosperity" -- will invite protesters to express their discontent with the government using whistles and trumpets.
It will begin in front of the Songshan Tobacco Factory Park (
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