Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) yesterday confirmed his eligibility to run in the party’s chair election next month and announced plans for a nationwide campaign tour.
Lo wrote on Facebook that KMT headquarters had approved his candidacy, adding that he would begin touring Taiwan to share his vision with party members through policy forums and meetings.
The KMT is to elect a new leader on Oct. 18.
Photo: Screen grab from Lo’s Facebook page
Incumbent Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said he would step down, while Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) has ruled out running.
Other people who have expressed interest in running include Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung (張亞中), former Changhua County magistrate Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源) and former legislator Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文).
Lo’s bid had been in doubt, because candidates must hold a Central Committee or Central Advisory Committee post to be eligible to run for chairman.
However, Chu’s aides on Saturday said that he would soon appoint Lo to the advisory committee, clearing the way for his candidacy.
If elected, Lo vowed to work to oust President William Lai (賴清德), restore fairness for what he called victims of political persecution and “bring democracy back on track.”
Lo pledged support for suspended KMT Taipei branch chief Huang Lu Chin-ru (黃呂錦茹), Taiwan People’s Party founder Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and KMT staff facing prosecution.
There has also been speculation that former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) might join the race.
Hau has not declared an intent to run, but has recently voiced support for Ko and visited former KMT chairman Wu Po-hsiung (吳伯雄), moves seen as signaling interest.
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
GLOBALGIVING: ‘ Caving to external pressure is not acceptable for an organization that has cultivated justice reform and human rights for 30 years,’ one NGO said A slew of non-government organizations (NGOs) have withdrawn from the GlobalGiving fundraising platform after it announced it would use “Chinese Taipei” instead of “Taiwan” from next month. The Taiwan Good Rice Association wrote on Facebook on Friday that it was informed on April 28 via a teleconference call of the change, which was made because the platform wanted to operate in China. Taiwan Good Rice is to terminate all cooperative relationships with GlobalGiving in response to the platform’s “unilateral and non-negotiable” decision to remove references to Taiwan, the NGO said. “Taiwan is in the official name of Taiwan Good Rice Association and the
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
RSS