The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday launched a campaign team composed of party heavyweights, government heads and legislators, with former KMT chairmen Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) and Lien Chan (連戰), and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) calling for party unity and joint campaign efforts ahead of the presidential and legislative elections.
The team, headed by Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), has 80 members, including Lien’s son, Sean Lien (連勝文), Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫). They will join efforts to promote government policies around the nation and boost support for President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and his running mate, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義).
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Ma lauded Wu Poh-hsiung and Lien Chan for their efforts to lay down the foundations for the development of cross-strait relations and thanked Siew and Wang for their assistance in implementing government policies over the past three years.
Ma, who is seeking re-election on Jan. 14, promised to continue government reforms and promote party unity to make the KMT stronger in the next four years.
“Taiwan is still facing great challenges and the nation needs an experienced leader who has the wisdom and persistence to solve all the problems. I will not pass on the responsibility to others ... I love Taiwan and I will fight for the nation until the end,” he said at the KMT headquarters in Taipei.
Both Lien Chan and Wu Poh-hsiung accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of using negative campaign tactics and called on team members to become “broadcasting stations” to promote government achievements on behalf of the presidential pair.
“We must let people know the government’s achievements and reveal DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) void and confusing rhetoric,” Wu Poh-hsiung said.
Lien Chan described Taipei City’s success in winning the rights to host the 2017 Summer Universiade as a “bonus of cross-strait peace,” praising the Ma administration’s efforts in promoting peace across the Taiwan Strait.
KMT spokesperson Lai Su-ju (賴素如) said the campaign team would travel throughout the country, especially the central and southern areas, to explain and promote government policies to the public, such as achievements in reviving the economy and improving cross-strait relations.
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