KMT names Chu 2016 ROC presidential candidate

2015/10/20

The ruling Kuomintang confirmed party Chairman and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu as its new 2016 ROC presidential candidate Oct. 17 in Taipei City.

At a special congress, the majority of delegates voted for Chu to replace Legislative Yuan Vice President Hung Hsiu-chu as the KMT candidate. The move was made after Hung’s slumping poll numbers and doubts over the suitability of her cross-strait policy.

In his acceptance speech, Chu promised to unify the KMT and lead it to victory in next January’s presidential and legislative elections.

“The party is on the verge of becoming or rewriting history,” Chu said. “Our goals are clear: We will defend the ROC and rebuild Taiwan by promoting cross-strait peace and prosperity for future generations.”

According to Chu, the KMT needs to start anew following its defeat in last year’s nine-in-one elections. “We will prove that the party can readjust and overcome the most difficult challenges,” he said.

“Our strategy is to be with the people at all times and to keep in mind what we set out to do in the first place,” he said, adding that democracy is about creating the condition for the happiness and well-being of the public.

Chu also apologized to Hung and her supporters for the decision, describing it as a necessary one underscoring his commitment to the party, President Ma Ying-jeou’s cross-strait policy and development of the nation.

“Equally important is the need to change Taiwan’s political system into one where accountability and responsibility are more balanced,” Chu said, pledging to quickly propose and implement a raft of legislative reforms within his first two years in office.

Hung, who accepted the development with good grace, reaffirmed her unwavering support for the party and urged backers to follow suit.

According to a poll released Oct. 18 by KMT think tank Cross-Strait Policy Association, Chu has 21.9 percent support, James Soong of People First Party, 13.8 percent and Tsai Ying-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, 45.2 percent.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237877&ctNode=2194&mp=9)