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
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
RSS