Eric Chu Returns as KMT Chairman
United Daily News, September 26, 2021
News Compiled by Taiwan Weekly
The Kuomintang (KMT) chairmanship election has concluded with former Chairman Eric Chu the winner. Chu received 80,5164 party member votes, or 45.78 percent of the total number of votes, making him the first elected chairman receiving less than a majority of the votes since the chairman became elected by popular vote in 2001.
Chu stated that starting from his night of victory, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will be concerned! In his victory speech, Chu emphasized that he will unite with the other three candidates, including Chang Ya-chung, Johnny Chiang, and Cho Po-yuan. Chu plans to lead the party to be unprecedentedly united and full of combat power. Since blue is the symbolic color of the party, Chu declared the party to be “the winning blue.”
Chu also stressed that the rights of the people will not be neglected when it comes to acting on the recall cases, the referendums, and the elections. The KMT must unite in order to deal with the arrogant and overbearing DPP.
The foremost challenge that Chu faces as the new chairman is how to unite the KMT in order to win future referendums and elections. Chu said that it does not matter which candidate voters had supported in this election because they all support the KMT. Starting today, he will go around Taiwan to listen to the voices of party members. “For those who did not support me, I will reflect, review and improve myself.” Chu’s intention to rebuild the confidence of the KMT party is clear.
Incumbent Chairman Johnny Chiang remarked, “We won’t always be the chairman, but we are fighters for the KMT for life.” In order that the newly elected team can enter into the situation as soon as possible, major policy directions and strategic goals for the next four years will be established during the political convention. The goal is to complete the handover by the end of September in order that the party can sprint forward with the new chairman’s leadership. However, according to the law, the new chairman should take office during the political convention in October and not before.
Chu called each candidate yesterday. He thanked Chiang for serving the party for the past seventeen months; He invited Chang, who is familiar with cross-strait peace issues to discuss and exchange ideas; and lastly, Cho Po-yuan to work hard together.
The election of the 21st-term chairman of the KMT was held on September 25. The total number of electors was 370,711, with a total of 187,999 votes, and the turnout rate was 50.71 percent. The second-ranked candidate Chang, received 60,632 votes, with a rate of 32.59 percent; Johnny, who sought re-election as chairman, got 35,000 votes, or 18.87 percent; and Cho received 51,133 votes, or 2.76 percent of the votes.
According to the KMT, it is estimated that 10 percent of the vote went to Chu under the effect of promoting “abandon Chiang to save Chu”, “fear of China”, and the “end of KMT” by the end of the election campaign. Under these circumstances, Chu still didn’t garner half of the votes and only won Chang with a narrow victory of 15 percent, 25,000 more votes.
According to Chang, he was able to obtain supporters due to his concern for the people. He hopes that the new Chairman can understand the truth behind “winning people’s heart is the key to leadership”. As for Cho, he stated that no matter what the result may be, it is absolutely their consensus to make the KMT better. The KMT ought to unite and win the elections in 2022 and 2024.
In his capacity as general-secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Chu this morning, which follows the precedent of congratulating Chu on becoming the chairman of the KMT in 2015. In the message, Xi called upon the two parties to continue to adhere to the common political foundation, uphold national justice, maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait and seek unity of the country.
According to Xi, in the past, the Communist Party and the KMT’s adherence to the 1992 consensus and the common political basis for anti-Taiwan independence have benefited compatriots on both sides of the strait. In the telegram, Xi maintained the “party to party” reference and addressed Chu as affiliated with the KMT in Taipei, and signed as general-secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.
In return, Chu also sent a telegram to express his gratitude. He believes that there has been positive process in the cross-strait relationship through exchanges and cooperation at all levels. He contributed it to the effort of both parties for over thirty years. Furthermore, Chu criticized the DPP for adopting de-Sinicization and “anti-China” policies, which have made the cross-strait relationship precarious. Chu emphasized that the people on both sides of the strait are Chinese descendants and hopes that both the Communist Party and the KMT can seek common ground and respect their differences on the basis of the “1992 Consensus” and opposition to Taiwan independence. It is important that both sides continue to enhance mutual trust, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in order that the cross-strait relationship can continue to advance peacefully.
From:
https://udn.com/news/story/122404/5771907
https://udn.com/news/story/7331/5772191
https://udn.com/news/story/122404/5772436