Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Chiang Nai-shin (蔣乃辛) won the party’s primary yesterday and will represent it in the by-election to fill former KMT legislator Diane Lee’s (李慶安) vacant seat.
Chiang, 59, has been a Taipei City councilor for the Da-an and Wenshan electoral district since 1981. He vowed to win the by-election scheduled for March 18 and urged his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) counterpart to run a free and fair campaign.
“I feel extremely honored to represent the KMT in the by-election. The challenge is just beginning and I will do my best to win,” Chiang said at the KMT’s Taipei City branch after the result was announced.
Chiang grabbed 54 percent of the vote and polls combined, followed by fellow councilor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華), who received 21 percent. The overall turnout was about 30 percent.
The final results of the primary were determined by a combination of opinion polls and a vote, with the poll results accounting for 70 percent and the vote accounting for 30 percent.
The by-election is being held to fill the vacancy left by Lee, who resigned as a legislator on Jan. 8 because of the row over her holding US citizenship. The Central Election Commission revoked her elected status as a legislator and a Taipei City councilor on Saturday.
Chiang stressed that he did not have dual citizenship and called on pan-blue voters to support the KMT’s candidate.
In response to disputes over bribery accusations between Lin and another hopeful, KMT Taipei City Councilor Ching Li-fang (秦儷舫) during the campaign for the nomination, branch director Pan Chia-sen (潘家森) called on the two to put the dispute behind them and prioritize party unity and victory in the by-election.
Pan said the party’s investigation into Ching’s accusations that Lin bribed supporters by hosting a dinner party would continue, but declined to confirm whether the party would take any action after the investigation.
Ching and another two defeated candidates, Lee Ching-yuan (李慶元) and Lee Shin (李新), were also at the branch to give their support to Chiang and called on the public to give the KMT a second chance following the Diane Lee controversy.
“KMT supporters are a little disappointed [over the Diane Lee incident.] The party is willing to correct its mistakes and we ask for forgiveness from our supporters,” Lee Shin said.
Pan dismissed concerns that the Diane Lee furor would have a negative impact on the party’s performance in the by-election and said he expected supporters in the election district, a traditional KMT stronghold, to give their full support to Chiang.
Meanwhile, the DPP announced Taipei City Councilor Chou Po-ya (周柏雅) would be its candidate yesterday.
Chou told a press conference that while Da-an District would be difficult for the DPP to win, the Diane Lee scandal had disappointed many KMT supporters and they might turn to the DPP.
He said Diane Lee lied to voters for 14 years, then she and her party did not admit to their mistakes and apologize.
“Voters should teach the KMT a lesson,” Chou said.
Saying that the DPP has no legislators representing Taipei, Chou called on voters to support him and let him be their voice for Taipei.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
RSS