Former Yunlin County commissioner Chang Jung-wei (張榮味) yesterday announced that his daughter, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chang Chia-chun (張嘉郡), had decided to drop her bid for re-election next year, in what is reportedly a move supporting People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜).
The elder Chang broke the news on Facebook yesterday afternoon, writing: “I want to solemnly apologize to all my friends that care about me. Politics is not the only option in life. One sometimes must change tracks in an effort to find meaning and value in one’s existence.”
“Decisions have been made and, with a frustrated and saddened heart, Chia-chun is to withdraw from next year’s election,” Chang Jung-wei wrote.
As of press time last night, Chang Chia-chun could not be reached for official confirmation.
The post, which was deleted shortly afterwards, dropped a bombshell in the political arena, particularly as the KMT has been hit by an exodus of members and its presidential candidate, Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), has been battered by dismal support ratings.
Chang Chia-chun’s alleged withdrawal from next year’s Jan. 16 elections followed a similar decision by KMT Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞), a former PFP member who abandoned his campaign for a seat in New Taipei City and publicly endorsed Soong’s presidential bid earlier this month.
In late June, Chang Chia-chun said that she was giving serious thought to quitting the party, citing the KMT’s palpable loss of public support and Hung’s contentious description of her cross-strait policy as “one China, same interpretation” (一中同表).
Before Soong’s announcement of his presidential bid on Thursday last week, reports said that Chang Jung-wei, who enjoys strong local ties, was a staunch supporter of Soong and was willing to make his daughter leave the KMT to seek election as an independent candidate.
When asked for comment, KMT spokesman Yang Wei-chung (楊偉中) said the party would step up its negotiation with Chang Chia-chun, but stressed that the case should not be seen as another KMT member “jumping ship.”
“Every person is different, so I would not characterize Chang Chia-chun’s [alleged] decision as jumping ship,” Yang said. “Besides, talk of her family stepping out of the political limelight emerged after the defeat of her aunt, Chang Li-shan (張麗善), in last year’s Yunlin County commissioner election.”
PFP spokesman Clarence Wu (吳崑玉) said the party was unaware of Chang Chia-chun’s plan to withdraw and that it was most likely just a personal decision.
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