Remarks by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential hopeful Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) that seemed to contradict statements from the party’s upper echelons have prompted criticism from KMT Central Standing Committee members, who yesterday called on KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) to “toughen up.”
On Saturday, Chu said Hung might visit the US in August or September, but Hung later the same day said it was up to her to decide whether she would make any visit, which local media called “a slap in the face” for Chu.
During the party’s weekly Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday, a committee member reportedly lambasted Hung, saying that many KMT legislators have harbored resentment toward her, as her actions and remarks have run counter to the party’s principles and might risk turning the KMT into another New Party — which pushes for unification with China.
Saying that Hung has launched a full attack against the US, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Chu, the unnamed member compared Hung to militants of the Boxer Rebellion, who believed themselves to be invincible and started the uprising in China in the 19th century to annihilate Westerners.
The committee member, who is an ardent defender of Wang, pledged support for Chu, saying that the New Taipei City mayor needs to rise to the occasion and lead the party during this difficult time.
The member described Chu as the KMT’s “most promising leader for the future” and urged him “not to miss out on his final chance” to run for president in next year’s election.
The committee member called on Chu to recruit new party members to restructure the party.
Another committee member questioned Hung’s claim that she would not use the KMT’s money to run her campaign, while calling on the KMT’s ruling body to retake the lead and operate the campaign for the presidential and legislative elections.
Many pro-localization KMT legislators have declined to be associated with Hung and asked Chu to toughen his stance, the committee member said.
Yet another committee member called on Chu to clarify the KMT’s direction and campaign platform in the party’s national assembly next month to assuage the worries of grassroots supporters.
A senior committee member said that the only authoritative representative of the KMT is the party’s governing body, not presidential candidates, calling on the party to instruct Hung to speak discreetly.
There is no need to coordinate between the KMT chairperson and its presidential candidate when President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was serving as the party chairman, a KMT member said.
Chu reiterated that the KMT as a whole should hold on to a selfless attitude and campaign for the elections in a concerted manner.
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