New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday reiterated his pledge to serve out his term, denying speculation that he was considering standing in next year’s presidential election.
“My current step and the next will be to serve as an excellent mayor,” Chu said, when asked about his plans for the Lunar New Year on the sidelines of a visit to New Taipei City Hospital’s Sanchong (三重) and Banciao (板橋) branches to express solidarity with on-duty medical personnel.
He laughed when pressed on whether there was any chance he would run for president.
“You want me to say it again? Happy new year everyone, I will bring my work in the city government to a full and excellent conclusion,” he said.
During his campaign for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairmanship last year following the party’s crushing defeat in November’s nine-in-one elections, Chu pledged not to make a run for the presidency.
However, there has still been speculation that he might be drafted for a presidential run, with KMT legislators stating that he might need to “take one for the team” if no other candidates emerge, rather than handing the presidency on a silver platter to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Chu said that other than expressing solidarity with on-duty personnel in New Taipei City, his only other plans for the Lunar New Year holiday would be to visit city temples and attend family gatherings in Taoyuan.
Meanwhile, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is scheduled to visit 28 temples in 13 counties and municipalities over the next five days, in a move widely viewed as the opening shot of the presidential campaign she announced last week.
Asked why he had not arranged trips around the nation like Tsai, Chu said it was because he is the mayor of New Taipei City.
ANOTHER EMERGES: The CWA yesterday said this year’s fourth storm of the typhoon season had formed in the South China Sea, but was not expected to affect Taiwan Tropical Storm Gaemi has intensified slightly as it heads toward Taiwan, where it is expected to affect the country in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 8am yesterday, the 120km-radius storm was 800km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving at 9kph northwest, the agency said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued tonight at the earliest, it said, adding that the storm is projected to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday. Gaemi’s potential effect on Taiwan remains unclear, as that would depend on its direction, radius and intensity, forecasters said. Former Weather Forecast
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