Wang Stops Move to Block Hung's Nomination in KMT Party Congress

 Wang Stops Move to Block Hung's Nomination in KMT Party Congress

Source: All Taipei Newspapers

July 15, 2015

The KMT's National Party Congress, scheduled for July 19, is going to confirm the nomination of Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-Chu (洪秀柱) as the KMT's official candidate for the 2016 Presidential Election. However, a signature drive for an open letter, trying to block Hung Hsiu-chu from running in the race, was initiated among the grassroots in Kaohsiung. According to an informed source, Legislative Speaker Wang Jyn-ping (王金平) had asked the pro-Wang faction not to join the drive, stressing "Right now what is most important for the KMT is solidarity."         

 According to the open letter, Hung's "One China, One Interpretation" campaign plank advocating precipitous reunification with the Mainland would seriously harm the KMT. The letter pointed out that confronting the possibility that we could be defeated handily in both the 2016 Presidential and legislative elections, the KMT party central and the party as a whole should face the reality rather than engaging in self-deception. It went on further to state, "to win is more important than to just run," so running with no hope of winning would undermine the party's future.

 The open letter stressed that at this critical juncture, the grassroots should say what was on their minds and in their hearts, adding that "if a policy is wrong, change it; if a person is wrong, replace him/ her." The open letter claimed that if the KMT could do neither, the grassroots would consider making a clean break with the KMT. On the back of the open letter was the telephone and fax number of Lu Shu-mei (陸淑美), a Kaohsiung County Councilmember of KMT affiliation, known to belong to the pro-Wang faction.

 In response, Lu denied that she initiated the open letter drive, adding that instead she received the open letter by fax two weeks ago without knowing who sent it. Lu stated that as she identified with part of the letter's contents, she decided to attach her name and fax number and then fax it to other councilmembers, soliciting their support. Lu went on to say that after she showed the letter to Legislative Speaker Wang, who did not read it carefully, he asked her not to circulate the open letter and stressed what was the most important for the KMT now was solidarity. Therefore, Lu said she decided not to circulate the letter any further.        

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