Two candidates within the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vying for the chairmanship yesterday began campaigning.
The chairmanship has been vacant since former KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) stepped down following the party’s defeat in the presidential and legislative elections last month.
Taipei City Councilor Lee Hsin (李新) yesterday vowed to reform the party by reshaping its image, while former deputy legislative speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) went to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center in Kaohsiung to pray for those killed or affected in Tainan by the Feb. 6 earthquake.
Photo: CNA
“It is going well,” Hung told reporters when asked about official support for her bid for party chairperson.
Lee said in a news conference at KMT headquarters that he hoped to inspire party staff and members to fight for the party, which would regain the trust of the people under his leadership, adding that national development cannot happen if there is only one dominant party.
“The KMT has made a mistake, which caused it to lose the elections. The party has to consider its past wrongs and find ways to stand up again,” Lee said. “We also hope that people help the party become a firm opposition party to oversee the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.”
Lee reiterated he would not make compromises on hypocrisy within the party, nor would he allow party leaders to dominate the KMT.
Lee said that the party needs to nneprovide a future for young people, remove conflicts between classes and generations, defend the Republic of China and return to positive values.
“The race for the party’s chairmanship should not be just a family business of the KMT. It should be every one’s business. The party should open the door wide for genuine reform,” Lee said.
KMT Acting Chairperson Huang Ming-hui (黃敏惠), KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) and KMT Central Standing Committee member Lin Rong-te (林榮德) also announced they are to run for the chairmanship.
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