President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) will speak today about the KMT chairmanship to quell rumors of a power struggle between Ma and Wu, the KMT said yesterday.
The media has speculated that Ma will announce his decision to run in next month’s KMT chairman election after the KMT’s Central Standing Committee today.
Ma and Wu had planned to finalize the issue next Monday when registration opens for the party’s chairmanship election. However, KMT Spokesman Lee Chien-rong (李建榮) said yesterday that Ma and Wu would hold a joint press conference this afternoon to explain the issue to curb more speculation over reported wrangling between the two.
TVBS reported that Ma visited Wu on Monday night at his home to discuss the issue and the two concluded that Ma would take over as KMT chairman. When asked for confirmation, Lee yesterday said Wu was at home on Monday night, but declined to confirm the meeting.
KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yi (吳敦義) yesterday dismissed allegations that Wu Poh-hsiung suffered high blood pressure because of the recent wrangling, and said he would offer his resignation if Wu Po-hsiung stepped down as party chairman. Wu Poh-hsiung yesterday presided over a weekly meeting at the KMT headquarters as scheduled. Approached for comment, Wu Poh-hsiung said only “we will talk about the [chairman election issue] tomorrow.”
The election for KMT chairman is scheduled for July 26, and the new chairman will formally take over the position on Sept. 12.
Wu Poh-hsiung’s son, KMT Taipei City Councilor Wu Chih-kang (吳志剛), yesterday declared his support for his father, and challenged Ma’s alleged decision to take over the KMT chairmanship.
“It is the president’s achievement when every citizen fights for the country and makes our country better. It is unnecessary for the president to take on different positions,” he said.
Wu Chih-kang said recent speculation on the power struggle between his father and Ma humiliated his father, and added that his father would support any decision made by the president.
At a separate setting yesterday, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), a KMT member, said he would be glad to see the president take over the party chairmanship.
But Wang declined to comment when asked if Ma was controlling and did not share his power with other party officials as alleged by Wu Chih-kang (吳志剛).
KMT Legislator Daniel Hwang (黃義交) said he also supported the development, saying that it would be easier for Ma to push the government’s policies if Ma doubles as KMT chairman.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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