Ahead of the next legislative and presidential elections, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is planning to focus on -female voters, who represent close to 50 percent of the electorate.
KMT spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓), who doubles as the party’s Culture and Communication Committee director, quoted KMT Secretary-General Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) as saying that local party chapters must make aggressive efforts to cultivate more young women cadres.
aggressive
He also hoped the party would reach out to women’s groups so as to develop a closer relationship with them and exchange ideas on related issues.
“The KMT attaches great importance to women,” Su said. “Secretary Liao specifically asked deputy -secretaries-general Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) to assist local chapters in this undertaking.”
Liao made the remarks after a briefing by Women’s Department director Chen Yu-mei (陳玉梅), who said some party chapters had found it difficult to increase the number of older female members and supporters.
Yesterday was Liao’s first time chairing the secretary--general’s regular weekly meeting after he assumed the post on Jan. 31.
The former Presidential Office secretary-general took over the post from King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), who resigned after orchestrating the KMT’s campaign for the special municipality elections in November, in which it won three mayoral seats, but lost the popular vote to the Democratic Progressive Party, which won two municipalities.
young blood
In addition to wooing women, KMT headquarters has also moved to recruit young blood after a 10-year hiatus.
The 20 new staffers, with an average age of 35, will report for duty on Monday next week and begin a nine-day training program.
They will then be sent to New Taipei City (新北), Greater -Kaohsiung, Chiayi County and Chiayi City for a one-month trial before they return to party headquarters in Taipei where they will officially start their new jobs.
Liao plans to personally take part in the training, including giving lectures and perhaps joining new recruits in the classroom, to let younger members know that the party takes them seriously, Su said.
weekly lunch
Meanwhile, Liao also attended his first weekly lunch with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in his capacity as KMT secretary-general.
The weekly lunch meeting has become a regular event since Ma took office in May 2008 and frequently includes Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), the premier and the KMT secretary-general.
However, King never attended the meeting when he was KMT secretary-general, choosing instead, to send KMT Vice Chairman Chan Chun-po (詹春柏) on his behalf.
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