Ma Ying-jeou: Doubling as KMT Chairman Beneficial to Implementation of Policies

News Analysis

Ma Ying-jeou: Doubling as KMT Chairman Beneficial to Implementation of Policies

Sources: All Taipei newspapers

April 14, 2009

It has been widely reported that President Ma Ying-jeou might double as KMT Chairman. In a recent TV interview, President Ma stated for the first time the “positive aspects” of his doubling as the ruling party chairman.

President Ma said that if he assumed the KMT chairmanship, the government’s ability to implement policies smoothly would be strengthened. Ma also contended that the KMT would still be a democratic party even though the party and the administration were under one man’s leadership. According to reliable sources, the possibility that President Ma would double as KMT Chairman was very high, but the speculation would not be put to rest until after May 20, the first anniversary of Ma Ying-jeou’s presidency. In March, President Ma had been more ambiguous in this regard, saying that “I am not a party leader; therefore, I don’t know what difference it would make if I served as chairman.” High-ranking KMT officials candidly confirmed, “We expect President Ma to double as KMT Chairman barring unforeseen surprises.”

According to media analysis, President Ma and incumbent KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung recently exchanged extensive views over the issue in order to pave the way for Ma to be chairman. Nonetheless, both leaders decided not to disclose their hand until mid-June so as not to have any unnecessary impact on the party primaries and nominations for the year-end local elections. “Whoever fills out a registration form will run in the chairmanship election,” added the KMT official.

Wang Yu-chi, spokesman of the Presidential Office, yesterday did not reveal any further information, stressing that “It was premature to say” whether President Ma would run for KMT chairman. Wang explained that what President Ma had said during the TV interview about doubling as KMT chairman was merely “objective analysis, not President Ma’s personal opinions.”

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