The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday launched the party’s election campaign for December’s three-in-one elections, with party chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) vowing to win the elections and earn the public’s trust.
“Winning the elections is our priority, but not the only goal. The KMT must win people’s hearts and trust as well,” Ma said yesterday at the launching ceremony of the party’s election campaign.
The campaign team, led by Ma, will include party heavyweights including Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) as well as party legislators to campaign for candidates in year-end elections.
PHOTO: CNA
Ma said he would transform the KMT into a party with integrity and discipline, and called on party members to participate in party reform.
“The KMT is a hundred-year-old shop, and the old shop has its power and its burden. We must strengthen our powers and get rid of the burden,” he said.
The party plans to hold six Central Standing Committee (CSC) meetings in local cities and counties to show support for party candidates after the new committee members are elected on Nov. 14.
In related news, a total of 75 members registered for the CSC by-election, including National Youth Commission Minister Wang Yu-ting (王昱婷) and resigned committee members such as Sean Lien (連勝文).
Hua Jen (華真) and Lai Diao-tsan (賴調燦), who were among the 12 former CSC members whose party rights were suspended for three months amid allegations of vote buying, ignored the disciplinary action and registered for the by-election.
Lai yesterday proclaimed his innocence and threatened to commit suicide to prove it if the party rejected his registration.
KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅), who became the first committee member to resign in the push for a by-election, abided by his promise of never running in a CSC election again by not registering.
The by-election is being held in the wake of allegations of widespread bribery and inappropriate gift-giving.
All 32 elected members resigned by Monday to push for a by-election, and the KMT approved the holding of the by-election on Monday night in a provisional committee meeting.
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