Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday said he would establish an in-house poll center if he is elected to lead the party again.
Chu, who announced on Monday last week that he was entering the race for KMT chairperson, wrote on Facebook that many changes to the party would be needed and proposed three ways in which he would change it if elected.
One was to re-establish an in-house poll center that would conduct surveys on not only levels of support for different political parties, but also issues people care about, he said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Scientific polls are important bases for decisionmaking in modern political parties, Chu said.
The KMT should closely follow changes in public sentiment regarding major issues and current events, and propose appropriate responses as they occur, he said.
Gaining useful information from the polls, and sharing those results with elected officials and other members of the KMT, would enable the party to connect with the public, as well as make better political decisions and public policies, Chu said, adding that they would also help the KMT win elections.
Second, by establishing a group on the messaging app Line, the KMT could combat false information and deliver accurate information, as well as increase the cohesion of its members, Chu said.
He also proposed training young people who are interested in public affairs to become future party managers, adding that they would be paid reasonable salaries and, after passing a test, would be assigned to appropriate positions.
Young people are the future of the KMT, and while the party has consistently been training them, it is far from enough, said Chu, who was KMT chairman from January 2015 to January 2016.
The KMT is scheduled to hold elections for its chairperson and delegates of its National Congress on Sept. 25.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The