The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus will hold a straw poll to decide on its deputy legislative speaker candidate tomorrow afternoon after a closed-door negotiation held by KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday failed to agree to select a single nominee from the six candidates.
"I exchanged views with the six party members and we reached a consensus that we will show that the party remains united despite the competition," Wu said after the meeting at KMT headquarters.
He said the party caucus would hold the straw poll at 3pm tomorrow to select the nominee.
"Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and I do not have a preferred candidate. The six legislators are all fully qualified and we will give our blessing to whoever gets selected," Wu said.
The six candidates -- KMT legislators John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛), Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), Shyu Jong-shyoung (徐中雄), Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) and KMT caucus whip Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權) -- signed a joint statement during the meeting promising not to attack other candidates, damage party unity or to manipulate the nomination procedure.
Chanting "go, go KMT" hand-in-hand after the meeting, the six candidates also vowed to respect the nomination mechanism and give their full support to the winning nominee.
When approached for comment, Shyu said he was competing for the position in order to serve the people, rather than eyeing more power for himself.
He denied being Ma's preferred candidate because of his clean image and for being an advocate for the disabled.
"Ma maintains a good relationship with each of the six candidates. Engaging in such groundless speculation is putting him in a difficult position," he said.
Hung, on the other hand, expressed her determination to seek the position and said the party would determine who the best nominee was through the poll.
Wang yesterday defended the party's nomination mechanism and urged the public to respect the procedure, whereby there was a negotiation before holding the poll.
"Each party has its own mechanism, The Democratic Progressive Party also decided on its candidates through negotiation," he said yesterday after attending an event in Taipei.
When asked to comment on KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih's (吳敦義) failure to join the competition following widespread speculation that he would, Wu Poh-hsiung said Wu Den-yih had never mentioned an interest to him.
Wu Poh-hsiung said any candidate who decided to withdraw from the competition should express their intention to do so by 10am tomorrow morning.
The party will confirm the nomination during its central standing committee meeting on Wednesday.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS