The KMT, Taiwan's largest political party, held its first party primaries yesterday to select candidates for the year-end elections, a step to further implement the party's democratic reform following its direct election for party chairman on March 24.
"Today's primaries are proof of the party's democracy," said Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) while casting his vote in the party's headquarters in Taipei yesterday morning.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Ma said that it is impossible to meet every party member's expectation to choose candidates by either party appointments or the primary, and hoped that "each candidate will respect the final outcome of the election."
The primaries took place in 395 voting stations in 12 of the nations 28 constituencies from 8am to 4pm yesterday. Candidates will be chosen in accordance with the ballots from party members and public polls taken by two companies last week. The two parts each constitute 50 percent of a candidate's overall score in the primary.
Based on the results of yesterday's primaries, the KMT will name its candidates for the year-end elections of legislators, county commissioners and provincial-level city mayors in a Central Standing Committee (中常委) meeting on Wednesday.
But some legislative candidates criticized the fact that the party had failed to finalize its nomination quota for each legislative constituency prior to the primaries, which they said will give the party leadership a chance to exert its influence over the nomination process just as it has done in the past.
Party officials responded by saying that due to diverse electoral conditions in each constituency, "the party will decide the quota according to the outcome of each primary."
Other analysts have warned that the KMT may face a split or exodus of members before the year-end elections because of the Executive Yuan's "black gold exclusion clause" (
The restrictions will present a dilemma for the KMT who will have to decide whether to field members in elections who may lose their electoral qualifications due to the clause even if they win a primary.
When asked if the party will lose some important members after the primary, Chairman Lien Chan (
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology