The three candidates in the Kaohsiung mayoral by-election yesterday canvassed for support ahead of today’s vote.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a rally near MRT West Fongshan Station to boost its candidate, former vice premier Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), with speakers including President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Vice President William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).
The election is more than a contest to win the city, but is “a war of glory,” Lai said, calling on young Kaohsiung natives living elsewhere to help Chen achieve victory with “more votes than the 890,000 that former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) won in 2018.”
Photo: Ko Yu-hao, Taipei Times
Han was removed from the post in a recall vote on June 6.
More than 100,000 people attended the rally, DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said at 7pm.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) made its final appeal to voters at an event next to the Kaohsiung Dream Mall, with its candidate, Kaohsiung City Councilor Jane Lee (李眉蓁), sharing the stage with former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), former KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and Han sharing the stage.
Photo: Wang Jung-hsiang, Taipei Times
“Chen was rejected by Kaohsiung voters [in 2018] and now he has come back, as if telling residents that they owe him the mayoralty and an apology,” Ma said.
After “elevating” Chen to vice premier after he lost to Han, the DPP, as it has always done, ignored political neutrality before pulling Han down, Ma said.
Before Han spoke at 9pm, Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Ruo-tsui (陳若翠) said that more than 100,000 people were in attendance.
Photo: Hsu Li-juan, Taipei Times
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) campaign vehicles on six routes throughout Kaohsiung canvassed voters for its candidate, Kaohsiung City Councilor Wu Yi-jheng (吳益政), with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), the party’s chairman, and TPP Secretary-General Hsieh Li-kung (謝立功) riding along.
Wu’s daughter Wu Lo-ying (吳洛瑩) said that she admired her father’s perseverance.
“My dad is a middle-aged man chasing his dream,” she said.
“It is important for people to hold on to their ideals,” she said, adding that her father has never viewed politics as a “job,” but a “passion.”
Although political observers are not optimistic about her father’s chances, she said that voters would give all of the candidates an equal chance, and would see the diligence and commitment that he has showed in more than 20 years in politics.
Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission said that people should wear a mask and maintain proper social distances while voting today.
No lobbying activities — including on social media and messaging apps — are allowed by law, with people who post remarks, pictures, videos, symbols, or poll results showing favor toward any candidate being subject to a minimum fine of NT$500,000, the commission said.
Garments or accessories bearing logos of any political party, group or candidate also constitute campaign activity, and are prohibited, too, with violators also risking a fine of at least NT$500,000, it added.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old