Press Release

Press Release
(April 11th, 2007)

This morning, the KMT held the inauguration ceremony for their Party Chairman. The newly elected chairman Wu Poh-hsiung emphasized that he would try to coordinate and promote the best legislative candidates in an impartial and unselfish manner in the future, adding that he would also try to make greater effort in promoting the best ticket of president and vice-president candidates.

Chiu Chuang-huan, member of the Presidium, Central Advisory Committee, officiated at the Party Chairman swearing-in ceremony and presented to Wu Poh-hsiung the certificate of election. A host of important political figures attended the ceremony, including Honorary KMT chairman Lien Chan, former KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou, President of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng, Non-partisan Solidarity Union Chairman Lin Pin-kuan, Taiwan Solidarity Union Secretary-General Chien Cheng-shan, and DPP legislator Wu Ming-ming. Earlier, the PFP Chairman James Soong went to the KMT party headquarters to extend his congratulations to Wu Poh-hsiung.

In his speech Wu said, “The KMT now faces rigorous tests.” Speaking of bringing unity, one should ask if one is compassionate or wise enough. One with compassion should be unselfish and considers Taiwan’s interests above all. A man with wisdom can learn from the past and avoid repeating failures.” Chairman Wu encouraged everyone to go to the rural areas, to contact with people there and listen to their call for unity.

Wu Poh-hsiung pointed out that “over the past 7 years Taiwan has suffered a lot”. Although the ruling party should be held accountable, the KMT also need to apologize for the people’s suffering because the KMT did not do enough and was not unified enough.

Wu Poh-hsiung emphasized that “both Ma Ying-jeou and Wang Jin-pyng are treasures of the KMT.” He will ask party workers, comrades in politics and their associates to think before they speak, and to put aside disagreeableness and become good comrades again.

Ma Ying-jeou in his remarks mentioned his Feb 13th declaration that he would join the presidential race, saying he would observe the accord during the meeting with honorary Chairman Lien, and with the spirit of cooperation promote a winnable combination of candidates to run in the 2008 presidential election. He also added that he would observe agreement announced by Wu Poh-hsiung on March 7th: In the event he were nominated by the KMT, he would definitely consult with Wang Jin-pyng first on whether he would want to be his running mate, the former KMT chairman said. We would try to win this most difficult election with the principle of cooperation, he added.

Ma Ying-jeou said that “over the past 7 years Taiwan has lost its economic competitiveness, social harmony and a clean government.” This is a truly heartbreaking situation to all of us, which is why he wants to stand up and let the people know that the KMT is a party with the ability to save the crisis Taiwan faces, he stressed. “The KMT has the willingness and the resolution to regain power next year. Facing this difficult election, as long as everyone cooperates, I believe that under the leadership of Wu Poh-hsiung, the KMT will win,” Ma added.

Former chairman Lien Chan also spoke, saying that “because the KMT has been out of power for seven years, only unity and cooperation would lead us to victory. If party comrades could be candid and treat each other with impartiality and sincerity, we would be able to solve any problem, he said. “I hope that everyone could support the best combination of candidates so that they would strive for Taiwan, save Taiwan and make Taiwan peaceful,” added Lien.

President of the Legislative Yuan and party heavyweight Wang Jin-pyng said that “with Wu Poh-hsiung’s wisdom and assertiveness, he will doubtlessly be able to help the KMT maintain its majority status in the Legislative Yuan, to bond KMT members closer together, to lead the KMT to regain power in 2008, and most importantly to make our nation prosperous and happy.”

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