The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is set to nominate its candidates for the November elections in Taipei City, Greater Tainan and Greater Kaohsiung after conducting opinion polls in the three regions.
The KMT plans to finalize its nominees for the five special municipalities by next month.
Elections for the heads of the municipalities will take place on Nov. 27 in Taipei City, Sinbei City (新北市, the upgraded Taipei County), Greater Taichung (a merger of Taichung City and Taichung County), Greater Tainan (a merger of Tainan City and Tainan County) and Greater Kaohsiung (a merger of Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County).
As the opinion polls in Taipei City, Greater Kaohsiung and Greater Tainan were completed, KMT spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday said that the party would now negotiate with the remaining candidates.
KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) notified all participants of the poll results yesterday morning, Su said. As a mark of respect, the party only announced which candidates topped the polls.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) led the polls in Taipei City, KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) ranked first in Greater Kaohsiung. In Greater Tainan, former KMT legislators Lee Chuan-chiao (李全教) and Kuo Tien-tsai (郭添財) were neck-and-neck, Su said.
Opinion polls will be used as a reference tool for the party when selecting nominees for November’s elections, except in Sinbei City and Greater Taichung.
The party is expected to nominate Vice Premier Eric Chu (朱立倫) as the candidate in the Sinbei City race and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) in Greater Taichung. Chu stood unopposed for the nomination.
Hu had two challengers, but Taichung County Deputy Commissioner Chang Chuang-hsi (張壯熙) dropped out and KMT Legislator Liu Chuan-chung (劉銓忠) refused to be included in the polls.
Meanwhile, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said he hoped see more Chinese and Southeast Asian students studying in Taiwan.
However, to allow Chinese students to study in Taiwan and recognize Chinese educational credentials, the legislature needs to amend the Statute Governing the Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and Mainland Area (台灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), the University Act (大學法) and the Vocational School Act (專科學校法).
No legal revisions will be needed to allow more students from Southeast Asian countries, presidential spokesperson Luo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
To attract them, however, Lo quoted president Ma as urging local colleges and universities to offer more courses taught in English.
Ma has asked Premier Wu Dun-yih (吳敦義) to assign a minister without portfolio to take charge of attracting more Southeast Asian students to Taiwan.
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