Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (
KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
The move came one day after Ma had promised to cast referendum ballots to support the KMT's referendums.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
"It doesn't matter whether we have different views on the issue. A political party is an organization formed by various people with varying views and it's impossible for party members to agree on everything," Ma said yesterday after visiting an author in Taipei.
Ma said he met with Wu on Monday to discuss the issue and agreed that boycotting the referendums would match the wishes of KMT supporters, as local party branches have been calling for such a move.
Ma said his party was determined to fight corruption and push for the nation's re-entry into the UN, but the DPP and Central Election Commission (CEC) left the KMT with no choice but to boycott the referendums.
The DPP has used the CEC to manipulate the situation, he said, adding that the KMT must boycott the referendums to avoid being used as an election tool.
Ma made similar comments earlier yesterday in a New Year's speech and pledged to host the Jan. 1 flag-raising ceremony in front of the Presidential Office next year.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (
Shieh made the remarks after Hsiao Chia-chi (
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) on Monday decided to replace Hsiao and Chairman of Taipei County Election Commission Teng Min-chih (鄧民治).
Shieh said Hsiao and Teng had been transferred because they had not responded to an Executive Yuan inquiry on whether they would follow one-step voting.
The Executive Yuan removed Samuel Wu (
Wu, who initially refused to obey the order, said on Monday that he would temporarily hand over his post by taking a leave of absence starting today.
Shieh said regardless of whether Wu takes a leave of absence, he has been relieved of his post.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
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