PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (
Chang said Hsieh's public approval rating was around 40 percent, which indicated that most residents of Kaohsiung did not approve of Hsieh's performance over the past three years.
The "pan-blue" camp should therefore have a good chance of winning if it makes sure it fields only one candidate to take on Hsieh, Chang said.
Although the KMT has yet to pick a candidate from its three aspirants, Chang said he would not meddle in the KMT's selection process so as to maintain an amiable atmosphere of cooperation between the two parties.
The three KMT aspirants are: former vice mayor Huang Jun-ying (
According to a cooperation plan between the KMT and PFP, the KMT winner will compete with Chang for the KMT-PFP joint candidacy.
Results of opinion polls on the three KMT contestants, which were released on Tuesday, showed that Huang Jun-ying -- favored by the party leadership -- was least favored among the public. Huang Chi-chuan came top in the polls.
Though the polls are not the only criterion in the selection process, the party risks alienating the other two candidates if it insists on picking him.
KMT members who have felt betrayed by the party's selection process in the past have gone on to contest elections against the party's candidate, sometimes making it easier for the DPP candidate to win.
James Chen (
If possible, the committee members will visit Kaohsiung to collect other information to help them make a decision, Chen said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
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At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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