DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) yesterday criticized KMT incumbent Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of being stuck-up after Ma said he hoped he would resume his post after a landslide vote.
Ma said that such a victory would serve as an opportunity for reflection for the DPP administration.
In an international long-distance call to pan-blue supporters in Washington attending a campaign dinner in support of Ma's candidacy, the mayor called on overseas supporters to rally their family and friends back home in Taipei City to support his re-election bid and to cast their vote on Election Day "regardless of rain or wind."
"Votes for me will be high if there's a high voter turn-out," Ma recounted after making the call. "And that, could serve as an introspection opportunity for the DPP administration."
When approached by the media to comment on Ma's remarks, Lee said that he "finds Ma's comments arrogant."
"Ma said he wanted to carry out a gentlemanly election, but I find it regrettable that he [Ma], by harboring such a stuck-up attitude, has himself long departed from the so-called gentlemanly election he often speaks about," Lee said.
Lee said that although reform is no easy task President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), since taking office two and half years ago, has been persistently attempting to implement reforms to solve scars that had been accumulated over the past 50 years under KMT rule.
"Being a [political] star cultivated purposely by the KMT for decades, I don't think Ma would not know that there are many grave issues concerning grassroots financial units," Lee said.
In response Ma said that his remarks were simply made to express public opinion.
"Many people have been depressed recently, with many people from different professions taking their plight to the streets. he said."
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