Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator John Wu (吳志揚) denied yesterday that there had been any under-the-table deal for his father, Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄), to yield the next KMT chairmanship bid to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in exchange for the KMT nominating him for the year-end Taoyuan County commissioner election.
“I believe residents of Taoyuan County are smart and can elect a commissioner with wisdom, competence and character,” John Wu, who is seeking the party’s nomination, said when asked to comment on remarks made by Ma on Wednesday afternoon during a birthday party for Wu Poh-hsiung.
Along with Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), Ma celebrated Wu Poh-hsiung’s 70th birthday at KMT headquarters on Wednesday.
“Chairman Wu’s father, Wu Hung-lin (吳鴻麟), was Taoyuan County commissioner. He [Wu Poh-hsiung] was also once the Taoyuan County commissioner,” Ma said to Wu Poh-hsiung.
“A member of his family may also become commissioner of Taoyuan. If this were to happen, it would become a much-told tale in the history of the Republic of China’s local governance,” he said.
A Central News Agency (CNA) report said that immediately after Ma’s remarks, those present looked at John Wu.
Wu Poh-hsiung was quoted by CNA as saying that “if I were to cry today, it would be tears of gratitude, not tears of sadness.”
Local media interpreted Ma’s remark as support for John Wu to run in the Taoyuan County commissioner election for the KMT.
But John Wu yesterday dismissed the speculation, saying that Ma was simply giving his compliments to the chairman during the party.
“There is no need to overinterpret it,” John Wu said.
He said he would still follow due procedure and join the party’s primary, adding that no one could decide who Taoyuan residents should vote for.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER.
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