The New Power Party (NPP) yesterday said it would next week discuss a proposal by NPP caucus whip Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) to nominate a presidential candidate.
The proposal states that the party should determine whether to nominate a candidate for the presidential election in January next year by debating it at a national convention.
Nominating a presidential candidate would help the party’s long-term development and better meet the expectations of its supporters, the proposal says.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“The NPP’s top priority is to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty, democracy and freedom,” the party said in a statement.
The party is keeping “an open mind” regarding how that would be achieved and would discuss opinions on the matter, the party said.
Although the proposal was submitted to the NPP’s decisionmaking committee last week, Hsu originally brought up the idea as early as April, well before a protest on Sunday against China’s manipulation of Taiwanese media, the NPP said.
As no committee meetings have been scheduled for this week, the proposal would be discussed next week, it said.
The committee last week decided that the NPP should apply a consistent standard to all presidential candidates after each party completes its presidential nomination process, the party said.
“One thing is certain — the NPP will never support a candidate who does not identify with its core values, such as those taking a pro-China stance on the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty,” it said.
Meanwhile, NPP Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) reiterated that he would not run for president.
He had learned from his friends that rumors are circulating about what he would do next, the former NPP chairman said on Facebook.
“Please stop spreading rumors. I have no intention of joining the presidential race next year and will not do that,” he wrote.
As he is not a member of the committee and is no longer responsible for party affairs, he is not involved in the party’s planning for the election, Huang wrote.
He will respect the committee’s decisions and proposals from members, he added.
Regarding his plans, he said he is focused on the Legislative Yuan’s provisional session and would inform the public of his next step after consulting a number of people.
Sunday’s protest was an effort by people from across party lines and did not belong to any political party or individual, Huang added.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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