Eric Chu to Make Announcement on May 16 on 2016 Presidential Election

 Eric Chu to Make Announcement on May 16 on 2016 Presidential Election

Source: All Taipei Newspapers

April 20, 2015

KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), who concurrently serves as New Taipei City Mayor, stated on April 17 to some reporters, when pressed on the issue, "I will not run in the 2016 Presidential race. Okay?" His remarks shocked many in political circles. Chu stated further on April 19 that after the registration period for KMT's presidential primary ended on May 16, he would present a complete report to the public.

The whole 2016 Presidential primary of the KMT kicked off today. Submission of applications, together with party membership endorsements, will start May 17^th and end on the 18^th. Primary election outcome, with public opinion polls results consisting 70% and party membership vote consisting 30%, will be announced on June 14.

 Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) has decided to throw her hat into the ring, so she picked up an application form and deposited a required NT$ 2 million (near US$ 66,000) on Monday morning (April 20^th ).

According to the KMT's Presidential nomination rules, if only one candidate registered in the race, but the candidate did not receive at least a 30% support rating in opinion polls in the primary, he or she would not be nominated in the end. In that case, the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting would directly draft a candidate, with the approval of the National Party Congress, held annually.

Analysts opined that even though Eric Chu stated that he would not run in the race, his supporters hoped that he would still be drafted by the KMT to run in the 2016 Presidential Election.   

Attachment : none