Regarding a call for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) to be “conscripted” to represent the party in next year’s presidential election, Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), a KMT member who signed up for the party’s primary, yesterday said she would not oppose the move, but only if it is “sufficiently justified.”
As Saturday next week is the last day for potential contenders to sign up for the party’s primary, some KMT members are apparently getting anxious over Chu’s seemingly strong determination to stay out of the race, and it has now been said that Chu might be “drafted” to represent the party.
Saying the process of collecting signatures for her nomination, which is required by KMT primary rules, “could not be better,” Hung yesterday said that she is “okay” with “conscripting” Chu to represent the party, “but only if it is sufficiently justified.”
Photo: CNA
“The party has set up a primary system that could, after much toil, finally demonstrate the party’s resolve to really mean it. If at this point other factors intervene, it would present a bad image to society,” Hung said.
The KMT requires potential candidates to collect signatures from at least 5 percent of all party members, about 15,000, for them to be eligible as candidates on Saturday next week.
Hung said she has acquired the needed amount.
“I reached the threshold simply with the signatures from party members who returned a request for signatures that my team sent out,” Hung said.
However, former health minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良), another KMT member who has signed up for the primary, is facing a significant struggle.
“Everybody knows that I do not belong to a [party] faction. If I did, it would be easier [to reach the threshold],” he said, adding that collecting signatures is “not easy,” as, while he might have many KMT-affiliated friends, he does not know as many qualified party members, which, he added, is the same for the Democratic Progressive Party.
He said he has received many signatures, but many of them are not from qualified party members, adding that he might pass the threshold if it were a signature drive open to all.
“I might lose my NT$2 million [US$65,000] deposit if I do not get the 15,000 required signatures,” he said.
Yaung said he would accept the party’s decision to “enlist” Chu if no one passes the signature threshold and if Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) decides not to sign up.
“I would abide by the rules of the game,” he said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
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
RSS