PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (
Chang Chao-hsiung, who was representing the PFP in a three-way contest for the pan-blue camp's nomination, said he had made the decision for the good of cooperation between his party and the KMT.
Born and raised in Kaohsiung City, Chang Chao-hsiung said he cared a lot for his hometown and that was the reason why he had decided to run for the mayoral post in the first place.
PHOTO: LIN YA-LI, TAIPEI TIMES
"Out of respect for the opposition parties' cooperation, I have been keeping a low campaign profile all along," said Chang, who was persuaded by his party to stand for election three months ago.
"For the sake of pushing for a quick and smooth nomination process among the opposition parties, I've decided to withdraw from the nomination," he said.
Chang's withdrawal left two candidates, former Kaohsiung deputy mayor Huang Jun-ying (
Earlier last week, former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (
At a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the race yesterday, Chang Chao-hsiung threw his weight behind Chang Po-ya, saying she was the best choice for Kaohsiung voters.
"The candidacies of all the nominees are good, but [Kaohsiung residents] ought to choose the best of them all, [someone] who is capable, determined, honest, upright and with a vision," he said, adding that his party also regarded Chang Po-ya as the best candidate.
Chang Po-ya, who sat next to Chang Chao-hsiung during the press conference, said she appreciated his support and respected his decision to withdraw.
She said that a united opposition was necessary to win the election.
"I hope that the opposition party nomination process can proceed and develop smoothly and thus, without a hitch, nominate a candidate to run for the Kaohsiung mayoral post," she said.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have
RSS