Taipei EasyCard Corp chairman Sean Lien (連勝文) yesterday dismissed speculation that he intended to run in a by-election that is scheduled for March 28 to fill the seat left vacant by former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Diane Lee (李慶安).
Lien, son of former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰), said he would focus his efforts on leading the company and would not leave the position he took up last year.
OPPORTUNITY LOST
“Running in the by-election would be a great opportunity for me, but I have no intention of leaving the company right now. I have an obligation to stay at the company and I cannot leave until my job is done,” he said yesterday while hosting a company event in Taipei.
Lien made the remarks in response to Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Pan Meng-an’s (潘孟安) claim that Sean Lien had visited KMT caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文) to express his interest in running for Lee’s seat and had sent supporters to join protests against Lee before she resigned.
Lee, who apparently holds US citizenship, which constitutes a violation of the Nationality Act (國籍法), stepped down on Thursday.
The by-election will be held in Taipei City’s Da-an (大安) legislative district.
Sean Lien is a rising star in the KMT.
His appointment as Taipei EasyCard chairman in August by Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) attracted widespread criticism from pan-green Taipei City councilors, who said Hau and the KMT had given Sean Lien the post to advance his political amibitions.
INTERESTED PARTIES
KMT Taipei City councilors Chiang Nai-shin (蔣乃辛) and Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) have expressed an interest in running for the vacant seat.
On the DPP side, Taipei City Councilor Chou Po-ya (周柏雅) has so far expressed interest.
The three councilors attended an event in Da-an District yesterday to seek grassroots support in the by-election.
Lin said the KMT would probably choose a candidate through negotiations, but added that she hoped to represent the party in the by-election.
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