The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) remained confident of its chances in the 2012 presidential election despite the fall-off in votes it received in the special municipality elections last Saturday, KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) said yesterday, as he pledged to proceed with party reform.
King shrugged off the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) growing tally in the overall popular vote as seen from the election results and challenged the party over its ability to deliver on its promises.
“There’s a gap between what the DPP promise and what they actually do, but the KMT will use administrative achievements to strive for victories [in presidential election],” he said yesterday in an interview with Chinese-language daily the China Times.
The KMT won three of the five mayoral seats in the special municipality election, but garnered only 3.4 million, or 44.5 percent, of all the votes cast. The DPP, on the other hand, received 3.8 million votes, or 49.9 percent, of the total.
Although DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) failed to win the Sinbei City mayoral election she is still considered the party’s most likely candidate for the 2012 presidential election.
King said the DPP chairperson promised to lead the party on a rational and moderate path, but failed to stop party members from making irrational comments and causing social conflict.
King was referring to DPP legislators Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) and Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲), who alleged earlier this week that the -shooting of Sean Lien (連勝文), son of -former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰), might have been staged in an attempt to affect the result of the elections.
In addition, Twu alleged that the shooter might have been coached on how to shoot Sean Lien so that he could injure him without killing him.
“The KMT has urged party members not to comment on the shooting, but as DPP chairperson, Ms Tsai has never tried to stop party members like Twu from making such comments,” King said.
King also defended President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) integrity and ability, and said the KMT remained confident that the party would attract public support with its efforts to improve the nation’s economy.
King said the KMT is in the process of launching reforms, including a personnel reshuffle and these would continue regardless of resistance from some party members.
“The KMT is transforming itself and we will not stop because of elections or opposition from members,” he said.
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