Meeting recruitment goals for legislator-at-large candidates has proved impossible, New Power Party (NPP) officials said yesterday, adding that the party would only nominate five or six at-large candidates, rather than eight as originally planned.
“There were difficulties as we consulted with prospective candidates, with many people unable to get the consent of their families,” NPP Secretary-General Chen Hui-min (陳惠敏) said.
Any candidate nominated by the party needs to demonstrate long-term perseverance and experience pushing for reform in their particular field, she said, adding that the party’s main objective was to nominate candidates who could “cover” issues for which its district candidates lacked expertise.
The party is to introduce its final legislative candidates today, including National Taiwan University economics professor Jang Show-ling (鄭秀玲), as well as another possible candidate who has yet to formally accept, she said.
The party yesterday introduced Soochow University political science professor Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), with previously announced candidates including Aboriginal activist Kawlo Iyun Pacidal, renowned theater director Ko I-chen (柯一正), and Hondao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation chief executive Doris Lin (林依瑩).
Of the candidates currently announced, only Hsu, who also heads the party’s policy working group, is an active party official.
He said at-large candidates would present their policy stances in a series of events this week, including two televised presentations tomorrow and on Thursday, followed by three sessions over the weekend.
Online voting is to begin on Monday next week and continue until Nov. 19, with party officials previously stating that voting would be open to anyone who has formally registered as a “friend of the NPP,” in addition to party members who have paid dues.
Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said that permitting party voting for the at-large legislative list rankings was necessary in order to prevent parties from protecting unpopular politicians by placing them high on at-large lists.
Party leaders have actively endorsed Kawlo Iyun Pacidal, urging voters to place her in the party’s top slot.
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