Han Kuo-yu Must Demonstrate a Stature of Exploring, Galvanizing and Elevating

Han Kuo-yu Must Demonstrate a Stature of Exploring, Galvanizing and Elevating

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

July 16, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

According to the results of the KMT presidential primary polls, Han Kuo-yu led the hopefuls with an obvious gap, garnering the qualification to represent the Blue camp in challenging Tsai Ing-wen. From the aggressive behavior in watching the home phones for the primary polls by the Han fans, it was indeed no small matter that Han Kuo-yu had the firm support of the grassroots voters. Nevertheless, how to turn this block of popular zeal of ardent expectations into a force to defeat Tsai Ing-wen or Ko Wen-je, even becoming the mandate for governance that all people trust, Han Kuo-yu, we are afraid, has a very long battlefront that needed to be consolidated. The most urgent one is how to open up his mind to call for the KMT’s solidarity, making friends and seeking advice extensively, thus elevating his vista.

The KMT yesterday made public the data of the five polling institutions in an approach of live broadcast with sophistication and transparency, not only allowing the public to witness the whole procedure, but also helping to dissipate the misgivings about "fake polls" on the part of the hopefuls. Han Kuo-yu, with a support rating of 44.8%, led Terry Gou by 17 percentage points and Eric Chu by 27 percentage points. This scope of gap should be accepted by those rated behind without any recriminations. The Blue camp once used to be concerned that there would have been a hopeful bolting the party to run independently on account of being dissatisfied with the results of the polls; now it looks like this situation should not happen.

After Han Kuo-yu emerged as the winner, he not only has to face the cruel pursuit for a kill by the DPP, but will also, at the same time, be tied down in Kaohsiung by various municipal problems. Under such circumstances, he probably does not have much time and energy to set up a presidential campaign team or enrich his narrative on governance. These gaps will all rely on comrades within the party and even like-minded figures in society to fill and help, for achieving results. Those Blue camp comrades with experience in governance should not grandstand; otherwise, the elitist stratum would be too selfish.

The top priority of Han Kuo-yu, as bellwether in the party primary, is to galvanize intraparty support, while avoiding the occurrence of division. Yesterday, he immediately called Eric Chu, exhibiting his statute; subsequently, seeking the support of Terry Gou and others is also a must-do. All these should not be only courtesy calls, but should have a higher strategy combined with exploration of narrative; thus, it would be adequate to meet the two-pronged attack by the Green camp and even Ko Wen-je.

The KMT has lost power for more than three years; now it is able to quickly find an opportunity to make a comeback, of course, it must be cautious and prudent, not letting negligence or omissions spoil the campaign. After the last year’s local elections, a saying in the streets was that "Han Kuo-yu is bigger than the KMT", possibly being quite unpleasant to the traditional Blue camp elites. In fact, a more accurate narrative should be "the Han fans are greater than the KMT." Only when the KMT sought the popular support that transcends the old Blue camp could it regain power. Based on this logic, only when Han Kuo-yu continues to elevate himself and open up can Han fans become even stronger.

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