The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday wrapped up legislative election nominee negotiations for one race in Taipei City, with KMT Taipei City Councilor Chen Yu-mei (陳玉梅) announcing her withdrawal from the primaries.
Chen said she decided to drop out of the race after a discussion with President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who doubles as KMT chairman, and KMT Secretary-General Liao Liou-yi (廖了以) about polls that show she has a lower support rating than KMT Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓).
Chou will seek re-election in the Shilin (士林) and Datong (大同) electoral district.
“Withdrawing from the race is a crucial decision to make,” she told a press conference at KMT headquarters. “The KMT cannot afford a split in the legislative and presidential elections and I will give the opportunity to Chou for the sake of party unity.”
Chen, who also serves as director of the KMT’s Women’s Affairs Committee, said she would focus her efforts on the presidential campaign, which is to start next month as the KMT plans to formally nominate Ma.
Director of the KMT’s Organization and Development Committee Huang Chao-yuan (黃昭元) thanked Chen for “taking the overall situation into consideration” and said the KMT was confident of Chou’s victory.
Of the other seven electoral districts in Taipei, Huang said the party would continue negotiations in Zhongshan (中山) and Songshan (松山) districts, as three hopefuls seek to represent the party — KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾), KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) and Taipei City Councilor Wang Hao (王浩).
The KMT said that it will complete the first phase of its nomination process on April 20 in 32 electoral districts that have only one registered contender, while the second and third phases of the nomination process will be completed on May 11 and May 25.
The KMT does not plan to hold primaries to choose candidates for the legislative elections, and will seek to complete all nominations via negotiation.
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