Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞), who was nominated by the party for a seat representing New Taipei City, yesterday dropped out of the legislative election and announced his support for People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong’s (宋楚瑜) presidential bid.
Lee’s announcement came on the heels of Soong’s declaration of his presidential bid in the morning.
Lee said he has been thinking about Taiwan’s future since July 19, when the KMT nominated its presidential candidate at its national congress, adding that Soong is the only person who could put an end to the havoc the nation has been enduring in recent years and construct a “right path” for it.
Lee said he would “fight with Soong,” but added that he would still support the KMT’s Sinjhuang District (新莊) candidate if they meet the needs of local residents, “as that is also my obligation.”
Lee said he would not withdraw from the KMT, but would be “unruffled by whatever measure the party might take,” such as revoking his party membership, given his shift in allegiance to Soong.
Lee said there has been no official talk over whether he would join Soong’s campaign team, adding that he only made his support for Soong public to show that he identifies with the PFP leader’s ideas.
KMT presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said she felt regret over Lee’s decision, adding that the party should work harder to make all of its members more confident.
According to the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper), former Taipei County deputy commissioner Tsai Chia-fu (蔡家福) and former Sinjhuang administrator Hsu Bing-kuen (許炳崑) are the two candidates who the KMT might field in Lee’s place.
Tsai said that he had heard about Lee’s reluctance to join the legislative race and would ask the party to find the most suitable candidate as soon as possible.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡), who is to run in the same constituency, released a statement expressing support for Lee and his decision.
Lee’s brother, former minister of the interior Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源), also vowed to assist Soong, saying it was Soong who introduced him to politics.
Asked if he would withdraw from the KMT, Lee Hong-yuan said that party membership is not an issue for him, as he does not plan to contest any election, “but if Soong asks me to be his running mate, I might have to think about [the party membership] issue.”
However, Soong has not talked to him about being a running mate, but if he asks, Lee Hong-yuan said he would definitely help out.
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