Ellen Huang (黃越綏), a strong proponent of Taiwanese independence who advocated self-determination and founding a nation through a referendum as part of her presidential bid, announced yesterday that she was dropping out of the race.
Huang’s decision was seen as an expression of goodwill toward Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) presidential bid.
However, the Taiwanese National Party, another pro-independence group, announced in the afternoon that its founder, Chang Mung-hsieh (莊孟學), would enter the race.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Huang’s unexpected decision and Chuang’s entry into the race have drawn attention, but it is said that Chang and Tsai would work toward the same goal although their approach might be different.
Taiwanese National Party founding chairman Huang Hua (黃華) said the party’s decision to nominate Chang would not affect Tsai’s chances in the election, because they would only advocate the foundation of an independent Taiwan as a nation in the election process.
“We will say what is inappropriate for Tsai to say,” Huang Hua said, adding that they would support Tsai for president.
Ellen Huang’s campaign office spokesperson, Chang Ming-yu (張銘祐), said her decision was indicative of consolidation within the pro-independence groups and an expression of goodwill to Tsai.
“The process of collecting signatures to join the election was for the purpose of emphasizing self-determination and founding a nation through referendum,” Chang said.
Accompanied by several senior independence proponents, Peng Ming-min (彭明敏) and Su Beng (史明), Ellen Huang held a press conference where the more than 100,000 signatures collected for her sake were unveiled.
She reaffirmed the concept of self-determination and the founding of a nation through referendum.
Huang Hua said Chuang was a former education section chief at the Lee Teng-Hui Academy, adding that it was the party’s view that a candidate who supports the founding of an independent nation must join the election.
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