People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday canvassed for votes at one of the traditional markets in New Taipei City’s Sanxia District (三峽), calling on the public to support him in Saturday’s presidential race “to end the vicious cycle between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).”
While canvassing for votes on foot, Soong accommodated requests to be in photographs and sign autographs.
He visited the Chingshui Zushi Temple (清水祖師廟) and vowed before the deity that he would “find hope to return to all Taiwanese if elected president.”
Photo: Weng Yu-huang, Taipei Times
In the past week, there has been enough infighting between the KMT and the DPP, Soong said, adding that the two parties have squabbled in the Legislative Yuan over the past 16 years without doing anything of importance.
“The people should let someone with the will and capability to work for the betterment of the people, to work for a better economy, to run the nation,” Soong said, adding that he would serve the people in the same way as when he was Taiwan provincial governor from 1993 to 1998.
“I will listen to what the people have to say and together we will all work our way to a better future,” Soong said.
Photo: CNA
Soong later traveled to Taoyuan’s Pingjhen District (平鎮) to stump for Republican Party legislative candidates Chang Cheng (張誠) and Chen Hung-jui (陳宏瑞).
He also used the occasion to promote his presidential bid with Republican Party Chairperson Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩) as his running mate.
Soong criticized KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) over his handling of the KMT chairman’s role, while lambasting DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), saying she had not included farmers in her policies.
Soong also apologized for his past support of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) when Ma ran in the 2008 presidential election.
Later yesterday, Soong attended a rally in Taichung, urging voters to elect him president, as he is “competent and can really implement policies, instead of just putting forth political platforms.”
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