Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator-elect Fu Kun-chi yesterday reiterated his intention to run for legislative speaker.
At a press conference in Hualien County’s Jian Township (吉安) yesterday, Fu outlined his platform based on various reforms, including enhancing functions of legislative committees, transparency in operating budgets and for legislators to be given the power to issue subpoenas in conducting investigations.
The announcement by Fu, a former Hualien County commissioner, runs counter to his party, as KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has already given backing to KMT nominees Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) to run for legislative speaker and deputy speaker positions respectively.
At a banquet last night, Han called for party unity and asked for support for his run for the speakership.
Voting is scheduled for Feb. 1, the first day of the new legislature.
In the Jan. 13 legislative elections, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secured 51 seats in the 113-seat legislature, the KMT 52 and the Taiwan People’s Party eight. Another two seats were won by independents aligned with the KMT.
Meanwhile, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun of the DPP, in an effort to retain his speaker’s position, extolled his forging of new relations with foreign countries’ parliaments.
He said yesterday that the speaker plays a vital role in Taiwan’s diplomatic relations, but if the new speaker has a pro-China stance and has personal links to Beijing, then it would be difficult for the legislature to engage properly in foreign affairs.
Separately, DPP Hualien County Councilor Hu Jen-shun (胡仁順) yesterday criticized Fu, saying he “should try to reform himself first.”
Hu said that when Fu was a county commissioner and faced criticism from county councilors over his policies, Fu would use government resources and media to conduct smear campaigns and freeze project funds that were requested by councilors for local constituencies.
Additional reporting by Wang Chin-yi and Chiang Chih-hsiung
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS