President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday authorized several young members of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) to claim the registration form for the party’s presidential nomination on his behalf, beginning his campaign for the presidential election next year.
Ma should complete the registration process by the end of this month, in accordance with KMT regulations. The KMT would formally nominate Ma as its presidential candidate on May 4 if no other members register for the presidential nomination.
So far, there have been no signs that anyone within the party will try to challenge Ma, who doubles as party chairman.
Chanting slogans as they entered KMT party headquarters, KMT Taipei City Councilor Chueh Mei-sha (闕梅莎) led nine KMT members from southern Taiwan to claim the registration form on behalf of Ma, and said the president would continue national reforms, promote peaceful cross-strait relations, seek ethnic harmony and work harder to expand the party’s support in the south as he seeks a second term.
After the nomination is approved, Ma will establish his presidential campaign office late next month or in early June.
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