Source: China Times

July 7, 2015

 

The KMT National Party Congress, scheduled for July 19, will confirm the nomination of the party’s presumptive Presidential candidate.

 

However, after Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), Deputy Legislative Speaker, won the presidential primary, KMT party delegates who were dissatisfied with the result called on the party to vote on Hung’s nomination in the confirmation process at the National Party Congress, instead of confirmation by acclamation. Commenting on whether this issue would add certain uncertainty to her nomination, KMT Chairman Eric Chu Li-luan (朱立倫) said yesterday that it was normal in a democracy to have diverse voices within a political party. Chu went on to say that he would respect the majority opinion among party delegates, adding that he believed in their determination to seek solidarity.

 

A KMT figure told the press that according to the KMT’s rules of order, when many participants in a meeting raised objection or dissenting opinions to an issue, a vote would be taken. However, the main purpose of the upcoming National Party Congress, the figure noted, was to show solidarity within the KMT and strive together to seek victory in the 2016 Presidential and Legislative elections. The figure concluded by asking rhetorically, “if Hung’s nomination eventually needed to be put to a vote at the National Party Congress, thus going against the said purpose—party solidarity—what are the chances for the KMT to succeed in the 2016 elections?”

 

A close confidant of Chu also said that given the fact that party delegates to the National Party Congress confirmed the nomination of Presidential candidates by acclamation in established precedents, if Chu expressed support for confirmation by acclamation rather than by a vote, wouldn’t he be criticized for undermining the party’s democratic character? Therefore, Chu could only say that the party would “respect the majority” and he would make the necessary decision on this issue depending on the situation at the National Party Congress, the informed source added.