Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) attendance at President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) inauguration ceremony was out of respect for the nation’s democratic system and her way of extending congratulations to the new president, the KMT said yesterday.
“Hung attended the ceremony to show her respect for our democratic procedures and to express her best wishes to the nation’s new head of state,” the KMT said in a statement.
Hung also hoped that Tsai would factor in the development of the Republic of China and the well-being of its people in her policymaking, the KMT said, adding that only a president who is willing to do the right things and speak the truth would be a blessing for the nation.
The KMT’s statement was released just hours after Tsai expressed her gratitude on Facebook to Hung for attending Friday’s ceremony.
“I would like to thank Chairwoman Hung for attending the ceremony. The magnanimity she has demonstrated has brought Taiwan’s democracy one step further,” Tsai wrote.
Tsai, who also serves as chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party, said like any other leader of a political party, Hung is devoted to achieving national solidarity.
“In the coming days, let us all work together,” she added.
Hung and Tsai were briefly rivals in last year’s presidential election campaign until Hung was replaced by then-KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) in July.
People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), who also ran in the election, was not at Friday’s ceremony because he was attending his granddaughter’s graduation in the US. PFP caucus convener Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) attended in Soong’s place.
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