Chu Looks Forward to Passing the Baton: Who Will Take Over the KMT Leadership？
By Niu Tse-hsun, China Times Opinion, May 26, 2025
In a media interview, Chairman Eric Chu of the Kuomintang (KMT) stated that the schedule for the party chair election will remain unchanged, with the announcement in July, the election in September, and the handover in October. “I sincerely hope for a smooth transition,” he said. Chu also noted that the four outstanding mayors of directly governed municipalities within the party are exceptional talents and key figures in future leadership contests.
In response, Mayor Chang San-cheng of Taoyuan openly admitted that Chairman Chu was referring to Mayor Lu Shiow-yen of Taichung. When asked by the media, Lu maintained her usual stance: “I don’t talk about elections or politics during work hours,” suggesting she needs more time to fully evaluate the situation. The uncertainties remain high and largely uncontrollable. Even though Chu emphasized his close friendship with Lu, the political sensitivity of the matter suggests that her cautious approach may still be the best option.
Chairman Chu’s decision to signal his readiness to hand over the leadership appears to stem from the unexpected challenges he has faced as party chair. The ruling DPP has launched a large-scale recall campaign, leading to 31 KMT legislators reaching the second stage of recall proceedings. Local party offices have been searched, and some party staff have been detained and indicted. Facing these crises has clearly taken a toll on Chu. Moreover, discontent against Chu within the party and among supporters remains significant. Although the April 26 KMT rally at Ketagalan Boulevard boosted Chu’s confidence and enabled him to launch a “Recall Lai” campaign, from a legal standpoint, this effort is currently infeasible. The Legislative Yuan’s party caucus has shown little movement, undermining Chu’s authority. His fatigue is therefore understandable.
In addition, figures like Wang Jin-pyng, former speaker of the Legislative Yuan, and Miaoli County Executive Chung Tung-chin have publicly supported Lu Shiow-yen. Former Taichung Mayor Jason Hu also remarked that he is willing to talk when Lu is ready, urging everyone to be patient and give her space. Reports suggest that 90% of KMT's council speakers and deputy speakers back Lu. Facing this strong internal momentum, Chu might see opposing the tide as futile.
However, as a seasoned political strategist, Chairman Chu’s move to relinquish leadership may not be as straightforward. This could be a strategic “trial balloon”—a retreat to advance. By appearing selfless, he may enhance his public image while pressuring Lu to clarify her stance. If Mayor Lu decides to run, then it would bolster Chu’s reputation as a magnanimous leader. If she doesn’t, with young party elites like Mayor Chiang Wan-an of Taipei and Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang of the Legislative Yuan still focused on the special municipality mayoral elections, Chu could emerge as the common ground choice to balance the party factions. This would not only justify his continued leadership but also help him consolidate power for future opportunities.
Regardless of Chairman Chu’s true intentions, the pressure has now shifted to Mayor Lu. She must make her final decision before the party chair election announcement in July to avoid appearing unprepared. Before committing, Lu needs to manage several key variables to build momentum for her candidacy.
First, balancing her mayoral duties with party responsibilities is paramount. Mayor Lu has always clearly separated city governance from politics in her media statements. If she runs, she must intensify her critique of the ruling DPP without giving them any exploitable vulnerabilities.
Second, she must craft a solid strategy to counter the large-scale recall efforts and achieve tangible victories. Given the KMT’s current reactive posture, Lu would need to accept the political fallout from any recall losses. If the KMT loses just three seats, it would be a significant blow. Subsequent by-elections could result in the KMT having fewer total seats than the DPP, even if combined with the Taiwan People’s Party they still maintain a majority.
Finally, even with a political star like Mayor Lu at the helm, it’s uncertain whether her charisma can revitalize the party or if the party’s weakness will drag her down. Lu must propose concrete party reform plans, expand the decision-making circle, resolve internal differences, and formulate effective external strategies. Integrating with other opposition forces and aligning with public needs are essential to amplifying her influence and achieving a synergistic effort to revitalize the KMT.
(The author is a professor in the Department of Advertising, Chinese Culture University.)
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20250526003785-262104?chdtv
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