Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday said while campaigning in Miaoli County that her chances of winning her presidential bid are “as precarious as Miaoli’s finances.”
Miaoli County Commissioner Hsu Yao-chang (徐耀昌) and two KMT legislators from the county welcomed Hung to the county.
“My chances of winning the election are as precarious as Miaoli’s finances, both of which are difficult, but we will prevail. If I can, so can Miaoli,” Hung said, adding that a person’s value can be seen “only when they are courageous enough to stand up when the nation and the party are going through difficulties.”
Hung was referring to the fact that the Miaoli County Government requested a bailout of NT$10 billion (US$306.02 million) from the Executive Yuan in the middle of last month.
In addition to Hsu and the KMT lawmakers, county councilors and KMT Central Committee member Lin Rong-te (林榮德) also turned out to offer their support.
The latter’s presence is a publicity win for Hung, as Lin has been seen a member of the pro-Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) faction, who was said to have been upset about Hung’s rise to the candidacy and have planned to launch a signature drive to block Hung’s nomination.
Hung asked the media to “see clearly” that Lin has returned from his China “just to stump for [her].”
“The KMT is truly in solidarity now,” she said, adding that it should “dispel all the rumors,” about the party’s rift over her candidacy.
Hsu said that Miaoli County’s financial difficulties could only be resolved if the KMT remains in office.
“Only when the KMT is in power can the nation enjoy sustained development,” the Miaoli county commissioner said.
In reference to the DPP’s aim of winning a majority in the legislature, Hung said the DPP does not have a majority now and the nation is already in chaos.
“If it does secure a majority, cross-strait ties would not fare well and Taiwan would become an isolated country,” she said.
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