Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Secretary-General Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) apologized to KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) again yesterday, while KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said he would make an “official announcement” in his capacity as chairman of the party at the planned extempore party congress.
Lee first apologized to Hung and her supporters on Thursday night for recent “developments.” Yesterday he said that Chu’s decision is not a “power struggle,” but to bear responsibility, “as the party’s election prospects have never been so dismal.”
Lee said his aides had contacted Hung’s campaign team in the past few days and he would directly apologize to Hung “if she has the time.”
Photo: Kuo Yen-hui, Taipei Times
Chu yesterday said Lee had made the apology on behalf of the party in his capacity as the KMT’s secretary-general.
When asked if he would himself apologize to Hung, Chu responded by saying that party members admire her efforts and that he “might not have worked hard enough on communicating [with Hung],” adding that he would explain the matter and express the party’s gratitude to her more clearly when he meets with her “face to face.”
An official statement would be made at the extempore party congress, he said, adding that Hung, as the party’s presidential candidate, would be at the congress.
The fact that neither he nor Lee had spoken with Hung sparked speculation that Hung has refused to speak with them. Chu said that Hung might want to “take a break and meditate,” emphasizing again that “the party is a family.”
Asked whether he would join the presidential race without resigning as New Taipei City mayor, the party chairman said the question was “a hypothetical one,” and that all the details would be decided and announced during the congress.
‘HIDDEN GEM’: The city earned plaudits for its low crime rate, world-class healthcare system, cheap cost of living and easy public transportation Taipei has been named the 10th best city in the world for quality of living in an annual survey by the editors of Monocle, a UK-based global affairs and lifestyle magazine. The survey, which is to be published in the magazine’s July/August issue, selected the world’s top 25 cities based on factors including cost of living, retail, hospitality, culture and access to green spaces, as well as feedback from Monocle correspondents. Taipei’s 10th place finish was one place down from a year earlier. The survey ranked Copenhagen as the world’s best city, with Zurich, Lisbon, Helsinki and Stockholm rounding out the top five.
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