Responses from mayoral candidates for Taipei and New Taipei City invited to attend a series of forums hosted by a coalition of youth and student organizations next month have been mixed, the groups said yesterday.
Four candidates seeking to represent Kaohsiung and Hsinchu City have already announced their intention to attend after receiving an invite, they said.
In the second round, the coalition invited candidates running in Taipei and New Taipei City, the coalition said.
Photo: Lo Kuo-chia, Taipei Times
Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate for New Taipei City mayor, accepted, while her opponent, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Lee Shu-chuan (李四川), declined due to scheduling conflicts, they said.
The Taiwan Engagement Association for Youths, National Students’ Union of Taiwan, Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, EdYouth, and student associations from National Taiwan University, Fu Jen Catholic University, National Tsinghua University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Sun Yat-sen University are among the events’ organizers.
They expressed regret that Lee would not attend, saying that they would be fair and impartial to the participating candidates.
The coalition on the same day sent invitations to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) of the KMT, who is running for re-election, and his DPP challenger, Puma Shen (沈柏楊), but they have yet to respond, the coalition said.
The first set of forums would be held in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, while the second would be in Taipei and New Taipei City, they said.
Candidates taking part in the forum may elaborate on their platforms and are expected to take questions from members of youth groups specializing in certain fields and the general audience, they added.
Lee’s campaign said his office has been in close contact with the groups.
The forum was too close to the final stretch before the elections, a campaign spokesperson said.
On Tuesday, Lee attended a forum hosted by a National Taipei University Department of Public Administration and Policy student association, they said.
“Lee is keenly interested in hearing the voices of young Taiwanese and will continue to engage in discussion with them,” they added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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