The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said yesterday it would complete its nomination process for legislative elections in May, with the nominations in 32 districts to be determined next month.
A total of 108 party members registered with the KMT to seek the party’s nomination for the legislative election. KMT Secretary-General Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) will lead the efforts to negotiate with hopefuls to determine final candidates.
According to Liao, the party will complete the first phase of the nomination process on April 20 in 32 electoral districts that have only one registered member.
The KMT will complete the second phase of the nomination process on May 11, and the final phase on May 25.
KMT Culture and Communication Commission director Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said the party would negotiate with prospective candidates and conduct public opinion polls to determine final candidates when such talks failed to result in an agreement.
The KMT does not plan to hold primaries to choose candidates for the legislative elections, and will seek to complete all nominations via negotiation.
In response to Hsinchu County Commissioner Chiu Ching-chun’s (邱鏡淳) and some local legislators’ calls for the party to refrain from choosing final candidates without negotiations, Su said the KMT would stick to a fair nomination mechanism to determine legislative candidates.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in his capacity as KMT chairman, instructed the party to make more of an effort to finalize the selection of candidates in the south and said that rather than limiting nominees to members from local communities, the party should seek talent from a wider area to choose candidates.
The legislative elections are likely to be held in December or January next year, based on existing rules.
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