The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday dismissed allegations that some members have pressured President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who doubles as KMT chairman, to resign as chairman amid the public outcry over the government’s policymaking process.
The party urged the public not to over-interpret the situation.
The recent fuel and electricity price hikes have sparked growing complaints from the public. Ma’s approval rating is down 6.4 percentage points from an approval rating of 32.2 percent in the latest poll by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) this month.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday reported that a number of KMT members have urged Ma to step down as party chairman and focus his attention on government policies.
A KMT Central Standing Committee member suggested during last week’s Central Standing Committee (CSC) meeting that one of the party’s hopefuls for the 2016 presidential election should take over as the KMT chairman and handle party affairs.
Chuang Po-chung (莊伯仲), director of KMT’s Communication and Culture Committee, yesterday dismissed allegations about an “anti-Ma” force within the party, and insisted that the party’s support for Ma remained unanimous.
“A CSC member from Chiayi did suggest that President Ma should focus on his duties as president, but he made the comments because he was worried about the president’s health given his heavy workload in the government and the party,” Chuang said.
Ma first served as KMT chairman from 2005 to 2007, when he stepped down amid an investigation into his alleged abuse of the special mayoral allowance fund during his two terms as Taipei mayor. Following his victory in the 2008 presidential election, Ma won the KMT chairman ship election in 2009.
The KMT is scheduled to elect its next chairman next year.
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